Sony: 4K Gaming Claim Is Not Misleading
By Boston Blake 17 September 2016
Sony executive Andrew House offers his perspective about the PS4 Pro’s 4K gaming capabilities amid concerns from gamers that Sony’s 4K gaming claim is misleading.
Since its introduction last week, the PlayStation 4 Pro has been the target of much debate among gamers. At the center of these discussions is the PS4 Pro’s 4K gaming capabilities.
One of the biggest PS4 Pro features touted by Sony is the console’s ability to upscale games to 4K resolutions, which the gaming giant calls Forward Compatibility. The claim by Sony, in essence, is that past games will upscale to 4K resolution, providing a 4K gaming experience for many a PlayStation gamers’ favorite current game. However, many users have seen Sony’s claim of 4K gaming as misleading, a criticism Sony executive Andrew House contests.
In an interview with Digital Spy, House shared his perspective on the PS4 Pro’s 4K capabilities, saying he doesn’t feel the 4K gaming statement is misleading at all. House said:
I think that whatever the term is, it’s a question of whether people see a demonstrable difference in the game experience or not, rather than the term we use to apply to it. I think that’s what people are looking for and they’ll make their judgment as to whether that’s working for them or not.
Where most gamers take issue with House’s statement is the way in which the PS4 Pro upscales games. Current games don’t actually render in 4K resolution, which is what most would expect with the term “4K gaming.” Instead, the console upscales standard HD images to fit the 4K TVs they’re played on.
It’s important to note that there is a very distinct difference between the two actions. One provides a true 4K gaming experience, while the other just updates the game to fit the full screen. However, Sony seems happy with the term “4K gaming” when referring to the PS4 Pro’s upscaling abilities.
That said, the practice of 4K upscaling likely isn’t a permanent solution. As game developers create games with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S – and eventually Project Scorpio – in mind, gamers will undoubtedly see native 4K gaming become reality. Considering neither Sony nor Microsoft want to leave any current-gen consoles behind, chances are good developers will simply make 4K resolution an option in visual settings for future games, much the same way PC gamers can choose the level of graphics they want for their systems.
It’ll be interesting to see the PS4 Pro’s 4K capabilities play out, and if the current direction is enough for Sony to reclaim its place as the best selling console. With the holiday shopping season on the horizon, there’s little doubt both Sony and Microsoft are anxious to make as many sales as possible.
What do you think about House’s statements about the PlayStation 4 Pro’s 4K gaming capabilities?
Source: Digital Spy
