Explained: why the PS4 jumped from 4GB of RAM to 8GB

4.4
PlayStation 4 originally had 4GB of RAM, before Sony bumped it up to 8GB. Key members of Knack’s development team have explained their part in why the number went up.

It follows Matt’s blog in defence of Knack, following a string of poor reviews when it launched alongside PS4 in November. As it happens, not everyone thinks it’s a bad game.

Now, in an interview with Inside Games – translated via DualShockers – Senior Producer Yosuke Watanabe, Outsourcing Manager Seiichiro Funayama, Game Director Takamitsu Ijima, Lead Artist Yoshiaki Yamaguchi and Lead Programmer Tsuyoshi Murakami gave their post mortem insight into Knack’s development.

Ijima explained that because Knack was developed early as a PS4 launch title, many of the console’s specific specs weren’t known to the team at the start, and this led the team to ask Sony many questions about what it was working towards.

Murakami stated that the PS4′s increase from 4GB to 8GB of RAM was approved during that line of questioning. He said that the Knack team were involved in those hardware discussions and asked for the RAM increase after learning that Sony was going to rest on 4GB. The company agreed, and that’s effectively why the console is the way it is today. It was quite a simple decision, it seems.

The team also explain Knack’s final state, and blame inconsistencies with its assets and visual presentation on outsourcing. Shoring off workload to other teams was necessary for the group to achieve what it wanted in time for the PS4 launch, and although reviews were negative, the developers revealed that hey have since heard warm feedback from parents and older gamers alike.

Posted:
Related Forum: PlayStation Forum

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2014/06/24/ps4-sony-8gb-ram-explained-why-the-jumped-from/

Comments

"Explained: why the PS4 jumped from 4GB of RAM to 8GB" :: Login/Create an Account :: 35 comments

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GossipPosted:

More Ram = Better Processing. Who's complaining?

TomPosted:

Well thats pretty good! I am really liking the PS4 now but still going to stick with the Xbox One!

MissPosted:

Zips
gtapro151
ChicagoMadePunk 8GB Is really good room storage especially if you like downloading/buying games from the store.

thats hd witch has 500gb of room for downloading, its talking about system ram ram


*Facepalm* 8GB for storage is good? Hahaha. ONE decent game on the PC is OVER 8GB alone..


PC games have giant servers compared to consoles, hence why they should have more ram.

ZipsPosted:

gtapro151
ChicagoMadePunk 8GB Is really good room storage especially if you like downloading/buying games from the store.

thats hd witch has 500gb of room for downloading, its talking about system ram ram


*Facepalm* 8GB for storage is good? Hahaha. ONE decent game on the PC is OVER 8GB alone..

LatiasPosted:

-Misaki
EstablishedGaming Glad they decided to go with 8GB (tight bas_tards)
The overall performance would have been terrible.


It wouldn't have been terrible. If the 360/PS3 could run GTA V with 512mbs of RAM, a PS4 could run games with 4gb of RAM. Would it be practical? No, especially with the long lifespans these consoles have, but it would definitely be doable -- which is why Sony had that in mind in the first place.

Right now maybe, but imagine in a few years. Both consoles (although the XB1 more) are already struggling to hit 100 and a consistent 60fps. 4gb of ram would have made things much worse down the road.

CyberPunkPosted:

AR15
Potion While i am glad that ps4 users have 8gb instead of 4gb of RAM. That is nothing compared to what some PC users have like me for example 32gb of RAM.


That is very true. But, that is also part of the reason that consoles are cheaper. So, you give and you take.


Console is built as a uniformity unit to cater to a pick up and play style, PC is somewhat designed and tweaked to work across to countless diffirent setups possible :)

gtapro151Posted:

ChicagoMadePunk 8GB Is really good room storage especially if you like downloading/buying games from the store.

thats hd witch has 500gb of room for downloading, its talking about system ram ram

gtapro151Posted:

yiks 4gb would have been a very bad choice even with gddr5

imaqtpiePosted:

More power is always good to have.

LouisvignPosted:

8gb of ram? That's "MR. 8gb GDDR5 RAM" to you and don't you forget it.

8GB 5500MHz GDDR5 176 GB/s > 8GB 1133 - 2133MHz DDR3 68 GB/s