Rumors recently sprang up suggesting that Sony Corp might be working on an upgraded version of the PlayStation 4, nicknamed PlayStation 4.5 or PlayStation 4K, which would be capable of handling 4k game and video resolutions.  According to The Wall Street Journal, that upgrade could be arriving by October of this year, just in time for the release of PlayStation VR.

Citing “people familiar with the matter,” WSJ claims that the new PlayStation console will be sold concurrently with the existing PlayStation 4, but it will be capable of handling higher-end game graphics and other features that require more powerful hardware.

WSJ’s sources said that the new console will likely offer the same software catalogue as that standard PlayStation 4, which means that there will probably not be any games released exclusively for the PlayStation 4.5 that could not also be played on the normal system. This makes sense for Sony, as the Japanese game company would likely want to avoid dividing its player base between two different systems.

If Sony is actually planning on releasing an upgraded PlayStation, it would not be the first time the company has done so. The original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 all released new versions that offered a slimmer profile and other minor improvements.

However, the PlayStation 4.5 would be the first time Sony has released hardware with such a dramatic improvement, and if WSJ’s reports are accurate, it would be launching less than three years into the console’s lifecycle.

Image courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc

The most likely target for this new system would be consumers interested in buying PlayStation VR, which also launches in October.

While PlayStation VR already includes an external processor unit, the headset is still limited by the capabilities of the PlayStation 4, so the upgraded console would provide a much needed boost in power to meet the taxing requirements of virtual reality programs.

Of course, one of the biggest selling points for PlayStation VR is the fact that the device can be used with any PlayStation 4 system, unlike PC VR devices like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, both of which have very specific requirements that can’t be met by just any computer.

In addition, with PlayStation VR already coming in at $399, a simultaneous release of a PlayStation 4.5 could rival Rift and Vive in terms of overall cost required to jump into VR, and it seems unlikely that Sony would want to risk its price advantage by making some programs require the upgraded console for the complete experience.

Image by by Jan Vašek (license)