Bethesda announced that it will be rolling out visual upgrades for Fallout 4 next week, specifically through the addition of PlayStation 4 Pro support and the release of the High-Resolution Texture Pack for the PC.
The developer and publisher, in the same announcement, revealed that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition will also be receiving new updates for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. However, specific details will likely be revealed in a separate post.
Fallout 4 Update 1.9 To Add PlayStation 4 Pro Support
In a post on its official website, Bethesda said that Update 1.9 for the PlayStation 4 version of Fallout 4, which will be released next week, will add support for Sony's more powerful PlayStation 4 Pro console.
According to Bethesda, the update will provide improved graphic and lighting features to Fallout 4, including bumping up native resolution to 2,560 x 1,440 pixels or 1440p, enhanced draw distance for objects such as trees and NPCs so that they will not just suddenly appear while the player is moving, and enhanced Godray effects, referring to the streaks of light that break through things such as clouds and windows.
To be able to enjoy the improved visuals of Fallout 4 on the PlayStation 4 Pro, gamers will only have to download and install the free update once it is released.
Fallout 4 High-Resolution Texture Pack: Can Your PC Handle It?
Also to be released next week, Bethesda is preparing to launch the High-Resolution Texture Pack for the PC version of Fallout 4. The DLC, which will be free to download, is said by Bethesda to be a "love letter" to PC gamers for all the support that they have given to the company not just for Fallout 4, but for all of its past games over multiple decades.
The High-Resolution Texture Pack, first spotted in October as a mysterious listing on Steam, will require free space of 58 GB. The size of the DLC, however, is not the main concern, as it is whether PC gamers have the necessary machines to support the upcoming visual upgrades.
According to Bethesda, the recommended specifications for computers to properly utilize the High-Resolution Texture Pack are a 64-bit operating system on Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10; Intel Core i7-5820K or better, 8 GB of RAM or more, and either the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB or the AMD Radeon RX 490 8 GB.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB graphics card costs $700, while the AMD Radeon RX 490 8 GB graphics card has not yet even been released.
"If your system can handle it, the Commonwealth will look better than ever," Bethesda wrote in its announcement, and it is likely true given such top-of-the-line specifications.
These are only recommended specifications though, so less powerful PCs might still be able to run the High-Resolution Texture Pack well enough for considerable visual upgrades. If your PC is not up to the task and you will not be able to shell out the money to purchase the necessary components, there will be an option to deactivate the high-resolution textures from the launch menu of Fallout 4.
