The PlayStation 4 Pro is here and now, kitted out with enough specs for true 4K resolution gaming and 1TB storage for your gaming goodness.

While some have debated whether the upgraded PS4 is what the PlayStation 4 should have been on release, I can see why the Pro was not the launch console.

As most of us are now adopting the 4K evolution, back in 2013 when the original PS4 released not many of us owned a 4K capable screen and if we did we sure paid a premium for it.

Now however anyone and everyone can play PS4 as it is meant to be.

Simply boxed the PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro) promotes Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare as being 4K along with the upcoming PlayStation exclusives; Gran Turismo Sport and The Last Guradian.

In the box you get the necessary cabling – Power (and it is a differing power cable to the original PlayStation 4), HDMI and PS Chat ear buds which plug directly in to the included PS4 controller.

On the rear of the PS4 Pro you’ll find the sockets are reminiscent of the original console and not much has changed there. The PS4 Pro has thankfully kept the PS Camera socket, no adaptor needed to continue to use your peripherals (looking at you Xbox One S). The front dual USB ports have shifted slightly to the far right of the front of the console aswell.

The controller is also the same as we are familiar with – but with a slight aesthetic difference.

The PlayStation 4 Pro controller boasts it’s own light bar just above the touch pad.

Design however, that is something totally different. The tri colour bar light has moved from the off center across the top of the console to the very front. Touch Power On is gone and is now a push button (of sorts) to the very left of the front facing light bar.

The PS4 Pro is slightly angled with it’s triple grid front that harkens back to how the very original PlayStation 2 was. I believe here that this design also helps with air ventilation – as the PS4 Pro packs alot of grunt and with 4K gaming to be had it is a given that there would be heat generated within the graphics components. A smart choice by Sony and also aesthetically appealing.

When compared with the original PlayStation 4 it is almost like looking at two very different consoles.

If you have picked up a PS4 Pro and already have a swag of games you need not fret about whether they are still playable or not. They are. The PS4 Pro is essentially a PlayStation 4 with high end graphic output capabilities. Most 1st Party titles from PlayStation will receive an update once the games are started inside your new and shiny PS4 Pro to enable playability in 4K.

Future titles from PlayStation are expected to be 4K and third party developers are already producing titles in 4K.

So, is it worth the upgrade? Priced at just a bit over $600 NZD and with ample storage (those that have the Day One PS4 will certainly appreciate the storage upgrade to 1TB from 500 GB) and high end, eye candy gaming to be had, yes it is.

You do not necessarily need to rush out and upgrade your TV the PS4 Pro will still produce deliciousness graphics on any screen. If you do already have a 4K capable tele, then the PS4 Pro is a must have or worthy upgrade.

The post PlayStation 4 Pro Unboxing appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Sony Interactive Entertainment New Zealand (SIENZ) today launched PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro), a high-end system that supports cutting-edge imaging technology to make games look richer and more detailed than ever before. PS4 Pro, which supports dynamic 4K gaming and 4K entertainment is now available in New Zealand at a suggested retail price of NZD $639.95 inclusive of GST.

Blockbuster PS4 games, including Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Activision), Ratchet & Clank, The Last of Us Remastered, and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (SIE Worldwide Studios), have been updated to take advantage of PS4 Pro’s increased power, taking the graphics and visual experience to all new heights.

“The launch of PS4 Pro is an immensely exciting moment for PlayStation. Never before have we introduced a new console in the middle of a platform’s lifecycle,” said Jim Ryan, President of SIEE and President of Global Sales & Marketing, SIE “By providing developers with a new way to showcase their creativity, PS4 Pro enables us to prove our commitment to innovation, as well as deliver captivating gameplay experiences for the players.”

PS4 Pro leverages the latest imaging technology by supporting dynamic 4K qualityresolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR). The powerful CPU and GPU of PS4 Pro allows developers to create higher-quality games that output dynamic 4K quality graphics with unprecedented visual precision, or smoother and more stable frame rates. Like all PS4 consoles, the system is also compatible with HDR imaging technology that produces more realistic, strikingly vivid visuals that are truer to the way the human eye naturally sees.

The introduction of PS4 Pro, which sits alongside the standard PS4, will provide consumers with more choice. Users can play every PS4 game on both PS4 Pro and the standard PS4, which was recently released in a slimmer and lighter model at a suggested retail price of NZD $489.95 inclusive of GST.

PlayStation VR is compatible with both systems.  PS4 Pro and the standard PS4 will also share the same user interface and have access to the same vibrant online community. Users are able to select their console of choice, based on their needs and preferences.

In addition, Netflix on PS4 Pro will receive an update at the system’s launch, enabling users to stream 4K content such as “Narcos Season 2” and “Luke Cage.” Around 600 hours of 4K content are expected to be released on Netflix by the end of the year. YouTube, already one of the largest sources of 4K content, is also receiving an update to support 4K content on PS4 Pro.

For gamers who own an HDTV that does not support either 4K or HDR, PS4 Pro provides a number of benefits, such as higher or more stable framerates, and enhanced graphics and environments.

The post PlayStation 4 Pro Now Released! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.