Rumor: PS4.5 code-named NEO, contains upgraded CPU, GPU, and RAM

Giant Bomb has shared new information on the rumored PlayStation 4.5 console, which it reports is code-named “NEO.”

The NEO will feature a higher clock speed than the original PlayStation 4, an improved GPU, and higher memory bandwidth. The hard-drive is the same as that of the original PlayStation 4, but it is not clear if that means in terms of capacity or connection speed.

Here are the NEO’s purported specs:

• CPU – 8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz (versus current 8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz)
• GPU – Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz (versus current AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz)
• Memory – 8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s (versus current 8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s)

Giant Bomb reports that starting October, every PlayStation 4 game will be required to ship with both a “Base Mode,” which will run on the current PlayStation 4, and a “NEO Mode,” which will be used for the new model. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the new model will be ready in October. The documents received by Giant Bomb note that developers are allowed to launch NEO-ready games before the launch of the NEO console itself.

The website reports that the documents it received states there can be no NEO-only games, and Sony will not allow NEO users to be separated fro original PlayStation 4 players while playing online. Developers also cannot offer exclusive gameplay options or special unlockables for NEO players. NEO can, however, run an improved version of the same feature. If a game has four-player local co-op on PlayStation 4, an eight-player co-op mode can be offered on NEO. But those differences won’t transfer online, of course.