The PS4 Pro was billed as a 4K machine, with the tech buzzword being thrown around a lot during the initial and quite disappointing unveiling of the console. What surprised many about this apparently 4K oriented device was that it lacked Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray playback. That’s still the case, as any update to that would require a hardware change, but it does get a bit closer with a new PS4 Pro update that enables 4K media playback via the Media Player app.
The PS4 Pro update should roll out later today, with no impact for regular PS4 owners. The update simply changes the Media Player app, giving it the ability to play 4K media off of the hard drive, a home server, or USB devices.
“Following this update, 4K videos in mp4 format saved on a USB stick or home server can be played on the Media Player app (remember, you’ll also need a 4K compatible TV to watch the videos in 4K),” explained Sony.
Those with a PSVR headset can also take advantage, if they also have a PS4 Pro. “Media Player will also update to support playback of 4K VR video content. PS VR’s display resolution is 1920 X RGB X 1080, so 4K VR videos will be displayed in a higher image quality compared to HD VR videos. Capture stunning 360 degree 4K footage, and then immerse yourself in that footage in VR at home — just as if you’re right back in the scene you shot.”
4K has been catching on as the latest and greatest industry standard. Its main hurdle right now is how expensive it is to get the tech required to view it, and a lack of content. As more services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon add 4K streaming capability that problem should become less of a factor.
