The video game website GiantBomb recently reported on a credible rumor that Sony is working on an upgraded Playstation 4 codenamed NEO that will ship with a faster clock speed, a vastly improved GPU, and faster memory. Not only that but it will offer higher resolutions via 4K output, and it’s expected to cost $399 at retail. Sony promises that this console won’t replace the current PS4 and will exist alongside it, utilizing the existing PSN ecosphere in order to preserve the unity of the gamer base. This is meant to be a good step forward in innovation, but it's actually a horrible miscalculation that will split the user base in half and tremendously backfire on Sony.
First off, the current PS4 user base sits at 40 million strong, and unless Sony implements a trade program for these customers, they are out of luck, especially those that just purchased a PS4. How would you feel if you just dished out 300 bucks for a PS4 and found out that Sony is planning on shipping a more powerful PS4, thus making your recent purchase obsolete?
Part of me believes that this decision will split the user base, resulting in many folks who will not be able to immediately afford the expensive and upgraded PS4 while also destroying the after-market for used PS4s. Why would anyone want to buy an obsolete used PS4 when they can wait a while and purchase a used PS4 NEO? Even more importantly, the 40 million people that already have a regular PS4 could potentially move on to XBOX due to the betrayal they might feel for initially supporting Sony but then being left abandoned to either spend $399 or be left with the nagging feeling that their games could look and play drastically better, but are relegated to the inferiority of their regular PS4.
Traditionally, gaming consoles lower in price with a redesign, but this move is the polar opposite and makes no sense because no one was asking for an upgraded PS4. In fact, Sony is vastly outselling XBOX and Nintendo, so why the heck do they feel the need to introduce a new piece of console hardware so soon? Money is the only logical answer here, and I’m disappointed in Sony for their greedy endeavors because the PS4 would not be as popular and topical if it wasn’t for the 40 million users that bought into it in the first place.
Giant Bomb’s report states that every game shipped on October and onward must include both a “Base Mode” that will run on the regular PS4 and a “NEO Mode” for use on the new console. This says to me that developers will have a tougher time creating games due to the fact they now have to take into account two pieces of hardware as well as the XBOX One for cross-platform games. Additionally, games might be delayed and take longer now that more technical considerations must take place as described by Bioware co-founder Greg Zeschuk, who says, “I just think it’s bad” and a “gigantic pain in the ass.”
Some people argue that Sony’s decision parallels phone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung who release new iterations of their flagship phones every year. I could see the similarities, but consumers have been conditioned to this practice while console gamers traditionally wait 8-10 years before the next generation of consoles. Also, gamers are used to console redesigns and price drops of their favorite console after a few years on the market. Will consumer gamers embrace Sony’s attempts to emulate phone manufacturers or will they jump ship to Nintendo or Microsoft?
All of the details regarding Playstation NEO are only rumors, but I believe they are true and E3 will probably be the event that unveils what Sony’s real plans are. I really want to love Sony’s attempt to bridge the 8-10 year console generation gap, but at the same time, I think they are giving the middle finger to the 40 million customers who supported the PS4 and made it the powerhouse that it is today.
