Microsofts 4K-capable Xbox One S even hasa release date in August.
Dont worry, though.
You dont need to ditch your old Xbox One or PS4 just yet.
The new Xbox Project Scorpio and the mysterious Sony console will fully support 4K.
The Xbox One lacks any kind of 4K support at all.
This will all change with the upgraded consoles in the future.
4K content has been gaining traction, but it comes with drawbacks.
There are some nice features in the new Xbox One S, though.
A built-in IR blaster will allow the One S to turn on your other devices, like your TV.
Currently, the Xbox One can only turn on your TV if it supports HDMI-CEC.
This also lets the One S control other devices like your A/V receiver or cable box.
The new Xbox also has the power brick built into its body.
These minor changes arent likely to convince any current owners to upgrade their consoles.
New buyers might be a different story.
Thats the same price as comparable existing Xbox Ones, with one key difference: bundles.
Right now, most Xbox One consoles are sold with games bundled in.
TheOne S pre-orderis the same price costs $20 more, but comes with nothing.
We dont know when it will be released or how much it will cost.
Apparently this isnt the case.
Unlike most VR headsets which rely on 4K-like graphics quality, the PlayStation VR will use a 1080p display.
This means that the existing PS4 can run it just fine.
The downside is, this introduces a little uncertainty.
Will there be a higher-quality VR headset to go with the Neo?
Or will it only benefit users with a 4K TV?
Additionally, Microsoft is planning to put all that new horsepower to good use.
On the current Xbox One, games are oftencapped at 30fps to maintain a constant frame rate.
With Project Scorpio, that cap wont be necessary.
Games will be able to run at full 60fps.
If you were unhappy with the performance of the original Xbox One, Microsoft wants to win you back.
Most importantly, Microsoft says that Project Scorpiowontmark a break from the existing generation.
All the old controllers, accessories, and games will still work with Project Scorpio.
Illustration by Sam Wooley.
