The arrival of true 4K gaming
The reason 4K HDR gaming has only just become a reality for consoles is the sheer horsepower required to render Ultra-HD graphics on the screen, and animate them with a fluidity that makes games playable.
The computational demands this puts on a system are considerable. Microsoft has found a solution for this challenge by including a 6 Teraflop GPU in its Xbox One X, which means true 4K experiences, running at a rock-solid 60 frames per second (FPS), can finally be achieved without the need to spend £1000+ on a high-end gaming PC.
Of course, there will always be hard-core gamers that want the ultimate rig on which they can push performance to its maximum, and PCs will give them that ability, but for the majority of UK consumers the price tag and simplicity of Microsofts Xbox One X will prove far more tempting.
Traditional HD graphics are displayed at a 1920 x 1080 resolution, which is why Full HD is usually said to be 1080p. This is usually the level of detail achieved by existing consoles such as the Xbox One and PS4.
With 4K this doubles to 3840 x 2160, making it Ultra-HD. Being able to utilise twice as many pixels means that 4K movies and games look far more detailed than their HD predecessors.
Up until now only the Xbox One S and PS4 Pro could stream and display 4K video, but neither could render games at a constant 4K resolution. Instead they would upscale 1080p games to higher rates when there wasn’t much happening on the screen, but as soon as the action increased the resolution would drop so that the consoles could cope with the calculations.
The Xbox One X changes that, being 40% more powerful than any other console, as it has the brains and brawn to render 4K without issue.
This extra capacity provides game developers the tools to depict environments with a superior level of clarity, making game-worlds even more immersive than before. Textures on walls and floors can be intricate, with pock marks, rough and smooth sections, or a mixture of materials lending the scenes a deeper sense of reality. The skin on a character’s face can reflect light more accurately, while also allowing for imperfections, wrinkles, and refined contours, all of which breaks down the wall between the player and their on-screen avatar.
Individual hair strands can be animated, so that movement more directly effects how a character appears, and battle damage to equipment can also be rendered in stunning detail. It’s like being given a new pair of glasses, and suddenly everything is in focus!
Once gamers spend time with a 4K compatible console, going back to standard HD will prove very difficult, especially when they experience HDR.
See more with HDR
While 4K visuals are a huge step forward for gaming, arguably the element that will have the most impact on players is High Dynamic Range. Many UK consumers will have come across the term HDR in relation to settings on their smartphone camera, and where the principle is similar allowing a greater selection of light to be displayed onscreen – HDR in videogames is a development that is certain to change how graphics are viewed from this point on.
High Dynamic Range provides wider levels of contrast between light and dark areas of an image, while also rendering brighter colours. The upshot of this is that games will appear to have blacker blacks, richer tonal palettes, and match what we see in real life far more accurately.
Where players might have previously been presented with murky outlines or blanket-like dark areas in game environments, now they’ll find detailed objects visible in the distance and granular levels of darkness onscreen. Transitioning between pools of light will be seamless, making for atmospheric worlds where shadows can reveal their secrets with subtly rather than in the on/off style often found today.
It’s not just in the bleaker scenes that HDR is useful though, as the wider range of light and colour available will make for breath-taking vistas in open world titles, vivid surroundings in racing and sports games, plus richer viewing experiences for Xbox One X users who want to stream movies and TV on their device. Where 4K provides the detail, HDR adds the splendour.
What games can be played at 4K HDR?
To avoid confusion, or the need to double up on stock, Xbox One titles will continue to be playable on all consoles in the range. But, those marked with the symbols for 4K HDR, and bearing the legend ‘Enhanced for Xbox One’, will contain additional content that makes use of the advanced graphical capabilities of this well reviewed new console.
This means that customers who buy games to play on their current Xbox One S, could have a ready-made library of 4K HDR titles if they upgrade to the Xbox One X. Something retailers would be wise to point out.
Currently, the ‘Enhanced’ range includes Assassin’s Creed Origins, Call of Duty: WWII, Destiny 2, FIFA 18, Forza Motorsport 7, Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and a number of other top titles, with entries such as Far Cry 5, Sea of Thieves, and Crackdown 3 expected soon.
Getting the most from 4K/HDR
Of course, accessing 4K HDR content will require a TV that can handle the higher resolutions. This provides retailers the opportunity to inform customers of the benefits offered by upgrading to the new standard, with models such as the 49-inch LG 49UJ630V, or the larger 75-inch Samsung Series 6 MU6100, being prime examples of Ultra-HD displays.
Obviously, the Xbox One X will be at the heart of the system, acting not only as a gaming device but also a home entertainment hub for music, TV, and movies. Thanks to the enhanced Spatial audio used by the console, a gaming headset like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700X would add even further levels of immersion and allow players to continue their adventures long into the night without bothering their neighbours.
The world’s best chefs have long known that the first bite is with the eye, and when it comes to 4K HDR gaming that mantra holds true. In-store stations that show-off the incredible visuals are a must, and should prove the most effective way to sell this next revolution in home entertainment.
Contact your Exertis representative today for more details on innovative ways to introduce 4K HDR to your customers in 2018.