According to Masayasu Ito, senior vice president for Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony could consider releasing a "high-performance" model of the massively popular PlayStation 4.
While the PlayStation 4 has already been referred to by Sony as the most powerful console in the world, Ito said in an interview with Japanese video game publication 4Gamer that the company could offer a new model of the PlayStation 4 that features better performance in the future.
According to Ito, since the PlayStation 4 utilizes an X86 architecture, as opposed to the Cell processor of its predecessor the PlayStation 3, Sony could implement performance improvements on the video game console over time.
However, Ito said that the company currently has no immediate plans to release a high-performance PlayStation 4 model, adding that the bigger question is if Sony would actually want to do such a thing.
While a high-performance PlayStation 4 model would seem to be great news at first, releasing such a gaming console would be splitting the audience of the PlayStation 4 into two camps, with one using the beefed up PlayStation 4 and the other using the then-outdated PlayStation 4. This would not be something that Sony would want to do at this stage of the life of the video game console, with the PlayStation 4 still enjoying strong sales.
It should also be considered that Ito was talking about the situation hypothetically after being asked the question on the possibility of a high-performance PlayStation 4. Still, Ito said that launching a high-performance version of the gaming console to run alongside the current one could merit consideration by the company.
Video game consoles usually do not receive such major updates, as revisions usually come in smaller updates such as more efficient energy usage and changes in aesthetics. Technical performance for video game consoles are usually the same from the beginning of the console's product life until its end.
The idea, however, is not totally unheard of. Last year, Nintendo launched the New Nintendo 3DS, which featured an improvement in CPU performance compared to the earlier model. The New Nintendo 3DS, which is being sold alongside the original Nintendo 3DS, is a high-powered version that is able to play all the games for its predecessor and many title from the gaming libraries of the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi. Some games, however, can only be played on the New Nintendo 3DS as these titles utilize the increased power of the newer model.
Whether Sony will follow Nintendo's lead and launch a high-performance PlayStation 4 remains to be seen, though it would seem that the possibility is there.
