Netflix has predicted that the new versions of the PS4 and Xbox One available this fall will support 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) playback. The upgrade is expected to support video streaming only, not 4K gaming.
It appears 4K UHD video is the wave of the future. The slew of 4K high-definition TVs on show at this year's CES made it clear that soon, all those 1080p LED LCD TVs that once looked so crisp and rich in color will eventually go the way of tube TVs, which now seem like relics of a time gone by.
Currently, 4K HDTVs are being manufactured at breakneck speed and prices are becoming increasingly affordable. "In a three- to five-year time frame I'm expecting more than half the televisions sold will be 4K televisions," says Neil Hunt, Netflix's chief product officer.
"More than half of the new content coming onto Netflix will be 4K," Hunt predicts. "Realistically it's the beginning of a transition which will take several years."
Part of that transition will involve upgraded hardware that can support the new content, and Netflix is expecting gaming consoles to take a leading role in the 4K transformation. In an interview at this year's CES, Hunt alluded to a "promise" by Sony that they would be upgrading their flagship gaming console to stream 4K video content. A 4K ultra high-definition TV picture is 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, more than 8 million pixels in total, which is four times the number in a 'normal' high-definition screen of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. Images are clear and are shown in great detail.
Recently pressed further to elaborate, Hunt stated his belief that by fall of this year, when Microsoft and Sony unveil their usual two year hardware revision, both the Xbox One and the PS4 will contain 4K streaming capabilities. To support 4K video content, the consoles will need new chipsets for decoding the new streaming format, along with upgraded HDMI 2.0 ports.
Sony and Microsoft have each issued noncommittal statements when queried on the rumored upgrade. Microsoft stated, "We remain committed to bringing leading entertainment features and services to the living room. Beyond that, we have nothing to share at this time," while Sony claimed "Support for high-resolution 4K output for still images and movie content is in consideration, but there are no further details to share at this time."
The silence from Sony and Microsoft is understandable. If they were to announce a 4K streaming upgrade this far in advance, sales of their current gaming consoles could suffer. Another concern the companies may have is the potential backlash from current console owners who cannot receive 4K streaming. Though an external peripheral could be made available to support the coding, the lack of HDMI 2.0 in the current versions of both Xbox One and PS4 is a larger hurdle.
If the move to 4K streaming capabilities by the console makers does in fact take place this fall, one thing is fairly certain: the consoles will not include 4K gaming capabilities. The technology and cost do not currently support the inclusion of 4K gaming in a mass-market gaming console priced between $300 and $500 dollars. For the time being, gamers looking to get their ultra-high-definition fix will have to stick to the only hardware currently supporting 4K gaming, a high-end PC.
