Sony unveils 2 updated PlayStations: Pro and slim versions
NEW YORK -- Sony is unveiling a slimmer, lighter, cheaper version of its PlayStation 4, as well as a Pro device targeted at hardcore gamers that features high-resolution images and a 1-terabyte hard drive.
The Japanese electronics company revealed the long-rumored updates to its video game console at an event in New York’s Times Square Wednesday. It coincided with Apple’s annual product event in San Francisco that produced updates to the iPhone and the Apple Watch.
The new device isn’t that much different from its predecessor, but one thing that has changed is the system’s size. The original PS4 stood two inches high, while the new Slim comes to about an inch and a half tall, CNET reports.
The slimmer, more energy-efficient PS4 effectively replaces the existing model. It will cost $300, down from $350 for the previous version, and go on sale later this month in most markets.
The PlayStation Pro will cost $400 and go on sale Nov. 10, in time for the holiday shopping season. It will offer 4K gaming, displaying hyper-realistic graphics and immersive visuals - as long as it is hooked up to a HDR, or high dynamic range TV. At the same time, Sony executives stressed that gamers will not need a HDR or 4K TV to be able to play games on the console.
Other details reported by CNET include reports that there is no longer an optical audio jack on the back of the new system. Also, the Slim apparently is quieter and cooler than the consoles that came before it due to a redesigned fan.
The Sony event was short - less than an hour - featuring just three speakers and a cacophony of flashy gameplay displays. It’s a sign that the video game industry is moving toward more frequent, smaller updates for its consoles, replacing the decades-old tradition of brand-new systems coming out every seven years or so, as consumers become accustomed to frequent upgrades to smartphones and other gadgets.
Sony says more than 40 million units of the PlayStation 4 have sold to date.
In other Playstation news, CBSN, the 24/7 live streaming service from CBS News, launched its app for the platform this week. The CBSN app is available for free on PlayStation3 and PlayStation4 systems.
In addition to its live, anchored news coverage, the app provides on-demand video content, including stories from all CBS News programs and original digital videos.