PlayStation 4 Pro is now available worldwide

With the launch of the PlayStation 4 Pro today, the availability of the Xbox One S and the impending launch of next year’s super-charged Xbox Project Scorpio, 4K gaming and entertainment is here to stay.

So with an understated amount of fanfare, Sony’s more powerful PlayStation 4 Pro is now available worldwide.  For gamers with a 4K display, they will benefit from streaming 4K video and games which can produce 4K visuals, either natively or by other methods thanks to the more powerful hardware. Those who are still on a 1080p display will also see a number of benefits including more stable framerates, better effects and higher native resolutions.

Either way, it’s the start of an interesting time in the console space as we approach something that’s more similar to a PC upgrade cycle.

Anywho, here’s the press release from Sony.

Sony Interactive Entertainment America (SIEA) today launched PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro), a high-end system that supports cutting-edge imaging technology to make PS4 Pro enhanced games look richer and more detailed than ever before. PS4 Pro, which supports dynamic 4K*1 gaming and digital 4K entertainment, is now available in the United States and Canada at a suggested retail price of USD $399 and CAD $499 respectively. 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), take advantage of PS4 Pro’s increased power, pushing the graphics and visual experience to new heights.

“The launch of PS4 Pro marks the first time ever that PlayStation is introducing an upgraded console in the midst of a platform’s lifecycle,” said Shawn Layden, President of SIEA and Chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios. “PS4 Pro caters to our fans who embrace innovation and want to enjoy the advancements in visuals made possible by the latest imaging technology. The development community is already taking advantage of the boosted power within PS4 Pro, and we’re eager to see how their creative efforts continue to make PlayStation the best place to play.”

PS4 Pro leverages the latest imaging technology by supporting dynamic 4K quality*1 resolution. The powerful CPU and GPU of PS4 Pro allows developers to create higher-quality games that output dynamic 4K quality*1 graphics with unprecedented visual precision, or smoother and more stable frame rates. As with all PlayStation 4 systems, PS4 Pro 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.*2

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 for $299 (MSRP). 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 the PS4 Pro has been updated, enabling Netflix members to stream content such as “Stranger Things,” “Narcos” and “Marvel’s Luke Cage” in 4K. Over 600 hours of 4K content are expected to be available 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 in PS4 Pro enhanced titles.