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The PlayStation 4 Pro Might Have Been Quietly Discontinued

Imogen Donovan

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The PlayStation 4 Pro Might Have Been Quietly Discontinued

Featured Image Credit: Sony, cottonbro

Drifting DualSenses, stolen PlayStation 5s, and short stocks of the new console: the PlayStation community have had a lot on their plate at the moment. We're sorry to say that one more worry has been heaped onto the pile, and it's the possible discontinuation of the PlayStation 4 Pro.

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The PlayStation 4 Pro is the burly bigger brother of the PlayStation 4, launched four years ago. Though appearances would suggest it's similar to the original, the newer version is able to deliver 4K resolutions thanks to its 4.2 teraflop 2.1 GHz GPU and HDMI 2.0 port. It also offers extra ports for PSVR, and boasts an additional 1GB of DDR3 RAM, which is dedicated to non-gaming applications, so that the games take advantage of the faster GDDR5 RAM. Last but not least, it arrived with a 'boost mode' which let those PlayStation 4 games that didn't receive a Pro patch to play much smoother and much more stable on the newer console.

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It packs a punch, summarily, and it's a nifty hop between the original PlayStation 4 capabilities and the revolutionary tech inside the PlayStation 5. If you've not gotten your mitts on the new console, or if its price tag is turning you off for the time being, then fill your boots on a brand new (or pre-owned) PlayStation 4 Pro. These puppies are about £450 on Amazon, but there are listings with a price of around £350 if you opt for one of the smaller retailers. You might have to quickstep to the checkout, as evidence is mounting that Sony might be discontinuing the PlayStation 4 Pro. Which would be a shame, truly.

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The official PlayStation Direct store shows that this console is out of stock, and advises interested customers to not hold their breath. "There are currently no plans to restock this item in the future," reads the blurb for the product. The PlayStation 5 is off to a stunning start, with approximately 2.5 million consoles sold globally, it would be rational to curtail production of its predecessors to focus on the journey that the PlayStation 5 will take. Furthermore, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment told an interviewer that the factories in Asia were under tremendous pressure due to the pandemic. "Of all the things that I've learned this year, one is that I wouldn't plan on doing another big console launch in the midst of a global pandemic, and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody else," said Jim Ryan. "It's been difficult, it's been challenging from the production side."

But. And it's a big one. Sony has assured that last-gen players won't be left in the dust, and it would be an odd choice to take away one of those consoles if that's their motivation. "We do feel that we have a responsibility to that very large community, and an opportunity to carry on making great PS4 games for as long as the need is there. I think you will see a tail with PS4 that you did not see with PS3," explained Ryan in a recent interview. PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 players are able to enjoy cross-gen play, which is a new one for Sony, and games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla offered a free upgrade which makes the most of the PS5's hardware.

"But that said, as time passes, you're going to see more and more emphasis on PS5 development," concluded Ryan. With no official word from the company right now, we'll have to wait and see what becomes of the PlayStation 4 Pro.

Topics: News, PlayStation

Imogen Donovan
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