Sony has discreetly removed the 8K tag from PlayStation 5 boxes, a label that has been prominently displayed since the console's launch.
This change was first noted by Digital Foundry's John Linneman and has been confirmed by various sources, including the PS5 product pages on PlayStation Direct.
It even reached Reddit's r/gamingnews where Redditors shared their opinions about this not-so-surprising change.
Sony's 8K Resolution Support
Originally, Sony marketed the PS5 as being compatible with 8K displays from its launch in 2020. The company stated that the console would eventually support 8K resolution through a future software update, provided that compatible content was available. However, since then, there has been minimal actual support for 8K titles, with "The Touryst" being one of the few exceptions.
So they apparently removed the 8K from the box on PS5s? Ha ha, that's pretty funny and should have been done years ago. It's pretty obvious that not only is 8K not suitable for these machines (aside from The Touryst) but 8K displays are not desirable. I wouldn't want one. pic.twitter.com/XgFpPx0FWi
— John Linneman @dark1x.bsky.social (@dark1x) June 5, 2024
Up to this day, it's bizarre why the console maker included this in the box even though it only supports just one game out of hundreds of available titles.
Sony Now Stresses Current Focus on 4K and HDR
(Photo : Charles Sims from Unsplash)
It seems that Sony has some reasons why it apparently removed the 8K tag from the PS5 boxes. The new batch only includes HDR and 4K/120 fps tags.
According to IGN, the updated PS5 boxes now only feature the 4K/120 fps and HDR tags, signaling a shift in focus towards these more widely adopted technologies.
The removal of the 8K tag reflects the current state of the gaming and television market, where 8K adoption remains low and is not a priority for most consumers.
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Industry Perspective on 8K
Sony is not the only company to have initially promoted 8K capabilities. Microsoft also highlighted that the Xbox Series X would support 8K resolution. However, Xbox head Phil Spencer has described 8K as an "aspirational technology," suggesting that it may be many years before 8K becomes standard in video games, if ever.
What Reddit Peeps Said About Removal of PS5's 8K
The original poster Roklobster 1 uploaded some pictures of the new PS5 box where the 8K tag is nowhere to be found. Right now, only the 4K/120/HDR tag can be seen in the new boxes.
According to one commenter, Sony might be preparing for a "lie" for PS5 Pro. Another replied that the company should add 16K to the Pro version.
One person even questioned if 8K has been a thing outside the tech demo TVs. While this is an impressive boost in resolution, it's barely noticeable when compared to the 4K support.
Some people on the thread believed that what Sony did on 8K was just a lie since there was no chance that it's coming out in PC gaming.
An AV engineer in the subreddit claimed that 8K does not exist in reality. He said that most gears won't even allow 8K, but still 4K 30fps is still common since bandwidth could be an issue.
The removal of the 8K tag from PlayStation 5 packaging indicates a realistic approach by Sony, acknowledging the slow adoption of 8K technology.
By the time, the gaming industry continues to prioritize 4K and HDR, there's not a single trace of 8K that remains to be seen. In the future, it's possible that it could cater to some games, but still, it will be under review how many games will be able to run it.
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