Phil Spencer: Leap to 4K, HDR Not As Transformative as SD to HD

The Xbox boss believes the current visual leap is different.

Posted By | On 03rd, Nov. 2016

xbox scorpio

Much has been made about the benefits of the PS4 Pro and even the upcoming Project Scorpio from Microsoft. How big are these leaps in gaming though, especially compared to the days when standard definition was making way for high definition?

Game Informer Australia posed this question to Phil Spencer, head of Xbox. With regards to whether the leap to 4K and HDR is transformative, he said, “Big leap is an interesting one…I’ve been around Xbox since the original Xbox and I remember the shift from SD to HD. I remember seeing Gears of War 1, which for us was the first game that I saw on pre-release 360 hardware, and I went, ‘Wow, that just looks like something new…’ The first time you saw a sporting event on live TV in HD, you went, ‘Okay, that is something different.’

“One of the challenges for the generation we’re in now is the jump from 360 to Xbox One, or frankly PS3 to PS4, is visible on screen but not at that same level. It’s not a 2D to 3D transition or an SD to HD transition. You have to be closer to understanding the content and appreciating the content, because those late-gen 360 games look pretty good.

“When I see 4K games, they look demonstrably better, but it’s not the same difference that we saw from SD to HD, or from 2D to 3D when gaming went that direction. HDR is the same way: I love the way movies and games look in HDR, but I don’t think it’s that same transformative thing that we saw with [earlier leaps].”

How will that affect the success of the PS4 Pro and Project Scorpio then? We’ll have to wait to find out with the PS4 Pro out on November 10th and Project Scorpio arriving in Holiday 2017.


Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out!

Share Your Thoughts Below  (Always follow our comments policy!)



Keep On Reading!

The Rogue Prince of Persia is Now Steam Deck Verified

The Rogue Prince of Persia is Now Steam Deck Verified

Evil Empire warns that Steam Deck players "may experience occasional drops in frame rate" in some sections of ...

Guilty Gear Strive – Queen Dizzy Revealed in New Gameplay Trailer

Guilty Gear Strive – Queen Dizzy Revealed in New Gameplay Trailer

Dizzy is available for Season Pass 4 owners on October 31st and remains as potent as ever with freezing, weapo...

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Has Sold Just 1 Million Units – Rumour

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Has Sold Just 1 Million Units – Rumour

It's claimed that Ubisoft expected the title to sell as well as the bestselling Metroidvanias out there, thoug...

A Rayman Remake is in Development – Rumour

A Rayman Remake is in Development – Rumour

Some of Prince of Persia: The Lost crown's recently disbanded dev team has moved to the project, which is in t...

Monster Hunter Wilds Trailer Showcases Oilwell Basin, Azuz, and New Monsters

Monster Hunter Wilds Trailer Showcases Oilwell Basin, Azuz, and New Monsters

Rompopolo and Ajakaran are two new threats, but there's also the Black Flame, a mysterious threat that awaits ...

PS5 Pro – 10 More Things You Need to Know Before You Purchase

PS5 Pro – 10 More Things You Need to Know Before You Purchase

Learn all the crucial details about Sony's upcoming mid-gen hardware refresh ahead of its imminent release.