No 4K Blu-Ray Support for PS4 Pro

[Steven Bogos]

No 4K Blu-Ray Support for PS4 Pro

[tweet t=https://twitter.com/Rob_Crossley_/status/773616813959745536]
Sony has confirmed that the PS4 Pro will not support UHD Blu-Rays, and only offer 4K video via streaming apps.

Sony officially lifted the curtain on the the PS4 Pro will not include a 4K Blu-Ray player [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/168347-PlayStation-4-Pro-Unveiled]. Sadface.

The company stated that the only way to enjoy the new machine's 4K video feature is via streaming apps such as Netflix. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Project Scorpio [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/167953-Xbox-One-S-Arrives-Next-Month] - the "improved" Xbox One that's more in line with the PS4 Pro. We don't know if Scorpio will come with a 4K Blu-ray player, but we are assuming it will as the S has one.

According to BBC's Rob Crossley, Sony stated the reasoning for the lack of player is because the PS4 Pro has a "focus on games," rather than entertainment.

Source: Twitter [https://twitter.com/Rob_Crossley_/status/773616813959745536]

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[FalloutJack]

Well then, I must ask how this is to be considered Pro?

 

[Saelune]

As much as I detest the current gen's anti-gaming focus, even I think this is stupid. Also hilariously ironic compared to last gen, when the ONLY thing the PS3 initially had going for it was Blu-Ray.

 

[mysecondlife]

Ah the Sony's signature pattern of upgrade in one area, downgrade in another.

 

[lacktheknack]

What is even going on in the tech spheres nowadays?

 

[ToastyMozart]

What is even going on in the tech spheres nowadays?

Mostly just the MPAA being more and more restrictive regarding what's allowed to be done with the media paying customers get. Last I checked the plans for UHD Bluray included mandatory online-activation/registration of a disc for the player to download its decryption key. My guess is they didn't feel like including all the stuff needed to essentially play a video file off a disc into the PS4 since it'd be complicated and expensive.

(At this point physical media's worst enemy isn't streaming, but itself.)

 

[Naldan]

lol




Sorry if this gets me a warning, but having MS beat SONY regarding SONY's own medium, there's few to say but: lol

The One Ass even has one. lohol, SONY.

 

[Zontar]

Let me get this straight.

Sony, the guys who created and own the Blu Ray format, who had it be an integrated part of the PS3 from its launch, don't have 4K Blu Ray support for the new variant of the PS4, but Microsoft, who are not the ones who created this technology, have added it to their new variant of the Xbox 720 One.

Good job Sony, and you're wondering why the PlayStation division is the only one not in the red.

 

[Bobular]

So their placing their bets that the people who care about 4k are also the people who would rather stream than own physical media? I think that's likely but I wouldn't place my consoles future on that bet, I'd have the Blu-ray player as a bit of a back up if things don't go as you plan.

 

[Dead Metal]

It could be that it's not supported on a software level and will be unlocked with a firmware upgrade like CD playback was with the PS4. The "focus on games" could really just mean in its original context, that the main effort went towards making the main selling point, playing games, work on this, and that the media was put on the backburner since it's just a feature and not the main purpose. I bet we'll see a firmware update unlock the 4K BR playback after launch.

 

[Kenjitsuka]

As much as I detest the current gen's anti-gaming focus, even I think this is stupid. Also hilariously ironic compared to last gen, when the ONLY thing the PS3 initially had going for it was Blu-Ray.

Exactly this!
Sony dropping the ball pretty hard; big dissapointment!
Amazed that MSFT suddenly is going pretty hard on UHD, but great news for the industry and 4K TV owners like myself.

 

[Parasondox]

Well that's stupid. Not many people buy Blu-Ray players, they just get a Playstation or drive for their PC. No 4K support for movies is stupid.

Who the heck is making the decisions at Sony these days? Consoles are the only thing keeping you going steady. Maybe headphones too.

 

[Quellist]

Great Sony, another reason for me to not bother with this piece of overpriced Junk. Well i guess my old PS4 will be playing games a bit longer...but as i never bought an Xbone i guess if i want an upgraded console that's where i'll be going! Good job Sony, pushing me toward your competitor!

 

[The White Hunter]

Then what's the fucking point?

It won't run games in 4k for shit.

 

[Aerosteam]

Perhaps they'll announce in a couple of years the PS4 Pro Slim that can play Blu-Rays.

 

[Lufia Erim]

Well i dont buy dvds or blue rays so i don't mind. I will be picking this console up as soon as it becomes redily available. I already sold my ps4 to be able to buy this

 

[Casual Shinji]

On the one hand 4K blu-rays don't seem to be readily available, not where I'm from anyway, and it'll be a good couple of years before I'll likely get a 4K television. On the other, this is a baffling oversight, considering this console is supposed to be the newest of the new. This together with the PS4 Slim not even having an optical input (when the PS3 Slim does), Sony really seems to be dropping the ball here.

 

[Deathfish15]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but during the Xbox 360 vs PS3 run, wasn't MS's thing about "focusing on gaming, not entertainment"? Isn't that why they went with a later released off attachment of HD-DVD player vs. Sony's directly included Blu Ray during that format war? How did that turn out again?

 

[Strazdas]

On one side its good that are are finally getting towards online media formats bieng prioritized. On the other side that 4k stream has worse quality than 1080p blu-rays so fuck them.

What is even going on in the tech spheres nowadays?

Tech is moving online. Physical media is dead.

What is even going on in the tech spheres nowadays?

Mostly just the MPAA being more and more restrictive regarding what's allowed to be done with the media paying customers get. Last I checked the plans for UHD Bluray included mandatory online-activation/registration of a disc for the player to download its decryption key. My guess is they didn't feel like including all the stuff needed to essentially play a video file off a disc into the PS4 since it'd be complicated and expensive.

(At this point physical media's worst enemy isn't streaming, but itself.)

Oh dont worry, you wont be able to stream them either unless your TV supports HDCP 2.2, which almost none of them do because they need to pay extortion fees for the hardware to MPAA. SO MPAA is killing streaming too. Since HDCP 2.2 was pushed into netflix and other streamers (against their consent, netflix caused quite a fuss about it) 4k Video is essentially dead in the water.

Let me get this straight.

Sony, the guys who created and own the Blu Ray format, who had it be an integrated part of the PS3 from its launch, don't have 4K Blu Ray support for the new variant of the PS4, but Microsoft, who are not the ones who created this technology, have added it to their new variant of the Xbox 720 One.

Good job Sony, and you're wondering why the PlayStation division is the only one not in the red.

PS4, a gaming console, will not be able to play media that you would not be able to play anyway because it barely exists. There is very few 4k blu-rays and over 90% of them are 1080p blu-rays mastered i 4k. There is to my knowledge only half a dozen movies that are actually 4k. Microsoft will be including expensive hardware and pay extortion fees to MPAA over something its clients cant use to begin with. Jokes on them.

So their placing their bets that the people who care about 4k are also the people who would rather stream than own physical media? I think that's likely but I wouldn't place my consoles future on that bet, I'd have the Blu-ray player as a bit of a back up if things don't go as you plan.

People who care about 4k are mostly people who care about quality. and people who care about quality would not stream. Video downloads on the other hand could fix all of that. But then you would have to convince the MPAA to actually let users exercise their legal rights.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but during the Xbox 360 vs PS3 run, wasn't MS's thing about "focusing on gaming, not entertainment"? Isn't that why they went with a later released off attachment of HD-DVD player vs. Sony's directly included Blu Ray during that format war? How did that turn out again?

Well MS Xbox 360 sold better for many years and only when HD-DVD was utterly dead because porn picked Blu-Ray instead PS3 sales started catching up as neither console was really capable of much gaming anymore so people used them as cheap movie players

 

[TheScorpion]

Maybe I should stick with getting the original PS4 for Christmas instead.