According to sources familiar with the matter, Sony is planning to release a more powerful version of the PlayStation 4.
The new PlayStation 4, which would be capable of higher-end gaming experiences such as virtual reality, will be sold alongside the current version of the console, which has sold over 36 million units worldwide.
One of the sources added that owners of the current PlayStation 4 would have to upgrade to the new model to be able to enjoy improved power and graphics, suggesting that the improvements are not something that can easily be installed in the current version of the console. The two models, however, will likely feature the same games.
Dubbed the PlayStation 4.5 though also being referred to as the PS4 4K, the console is expected to be unveiled prior to the launch of the PlayStation VR headset. The virtual reality device is planned to launch in October, though it is likely that the announcement of the new PlayStation 4 will be much earlier than that.
It is not clear what the virtual reality experience would be like for those that do not upgrade to the upcoming PlayStation model though. It is possible that gamers would still be able to try out the PlayStation VR headset on the current model of the PlayStation 4, but with a reduced experience compared to going into virtual reality with the upcoming model.
If the rumors are indeed true and Sony launched the PlayStation 4.5 before October, it would break the typical release schedule for new video game consoles. Sony has been launching new consoles every six or seven years, but if the new PlayStation is launched this year, the wait time since the PlayStation 4 would only be three years.
Sony released the PlayStation in 1994, the PlayStation 2 in 2000, the PlayStation 3 in 2006 and the PlayStation 4 in 2013.
Sony's plans to upgrade the PlayStation 4's hardware is the exact opposite of rival Microsoft's plans, which recently said that it would be focusing more on software upgrades. The company is looking to more deeply integrate the Xbox One with Windows 10.
