5 questions we have before Sony's big PlayStation event

Image: Kris Tripplaar/Sipa USA/AP images

Sony executives and developers will take the stage Wednesday in New York for an ambiguously titled "PlayStation Meeting." But despite the obtuse title, we know a bit of what's being discussed, thanks to Sony's previous releases and some very leaky retailers.

Sony will undoubtedly spend time highlighting the upcoming PlayStation Neo, which it announced in June, as well as the redesigned PlayStation 4. The "PS4 Slim," as the internet has dubbed it, has seen so many unboxings, you know its retail appearance is probably just around the corner. There will also likely be new game announcements and demos for already announced titles.

While we know plenty already, we have some questions before Wednesday's event — specifically about the broader implications of these consoles and how they fit into the company's strategy.

Is this slimmer PlayStation the new PlayStation 4?

Let's start with the product we know more about: the PlayStation 4 "slim." There are enough unboxing videos and teardowns that we can feel comfortable saying this thinner, more svelte PS4 is the real deal. 

Footage of the PlayStation 4 "slim" — which isn't its official name — first started appearing in the middle of August from the UK. The smaller PS4 doesn't appear to have any differences under the hood. There are a few small changes, like the dropped optical port and new light bar positioning on the controller, but videos make it look very similar to the original PlayStation 4.

In fact, the box's branding signals that this is the console's future. It's not going to be called the PS4 Slim by Sony — like the Xbox One S branding — because we may be looking at the PlayStation 4 going forward. But that's up to Sony to confirm Wednesday, along with the system's price, which is another mystery.

Why should people buy a PlayStation Neo?

While the PlayStation 4 Slim was supposed to be a complete secret, we do know a little bit about Sony's other big announcement. The codenamed PlayStation Neo was revealed by Sony boss Andrew House to the Financial Times just before E3 this year, but he didn't get down to the nitty gritty.  While we know the console will support 4K resolution and "richer graphics," it's not clear what that means. Hopefully Neo's real specs and design will be the first thing revealed Wednesday.

House told FT the Neo was meant to "complement" the current PlayStation 4, which is important, since Sony has already sold more than 40 million of them. It's not meant to split the market, but rather exist as something to entice people who are willing to spend a lot on gaming. 

But who will really benefit? Will the console only make sense if you've sprung for a 4K TV? One of Sony's biggest challenges will be marketing the Neo, since it isn't a replacement and there isn't much precedent for two consoles in the same generation. (To be fair, Microsoft will face the same challenge with its own amped-up console, Project Scorpio.)

What kind of content will run on the Neo?

If Sony planned a whole press event in New York, it will definitely need some show-stopping content to prove what the Neo can do. Since the company won't want to divide its user base by releasing games that only work in the Neo, what kinds of content might we see that will really take advantage of the system?

For one, making anything 4K compliant — film or games — is going to cost a lot more for its producers. AAA titles may not hold up when put up to a higher resolution, so it's going to mean game producers will have to really buy in. But if Sony (and Microsoft) can prove the demand is there, the market may follow.

But that brings us to another real benefactor of Neo's increased power ...

Should I wait for the Neo to buy a PlayStation VR?

This will be one of the real tests of the PlayStation 4. So far, the virtual reality headsets on the market (excluding mobile phone powered Gear VR or Cardboard) have required powerful Windows PCs with pretty modern graphics cards. The PlayStation VR headset runs on the PS4 now, as countless press and fans have seen in demos, but how does it stand up in extended home use?

The Neo may be the ideal console to run the PlayStation VR, particularly due to virtual reality's stringent resolution and frame rate requirements. Drop below 60 frames per second, and it's Motion Sickness City for the poor soul wearing the headset. It stands to reason there will be improvements made to Neo specifically for virtual reality, but will Sony potentially hurt its launch sales of the headset (due out next month) by mentioning those potential caveats? We will know tomorrow. 

How much will the Neo cost?

With rumored specs resembling a decent gaming PC, that also has to mean a higher price tag. It's something Sony can get away with if it continues to offer the base model PlayStation 4. Hopefully Sony will reveal that price to us Wednesday.

It's also just as likely it will keep mum on a figure, especially if the console isn't due out for six months or more. That gives Sony the opportunity to play chicken with Microsoft regarding price, just as it did at E3 2013; it's believed by many that Sony deliberately stripped out features, like the camera, from the PlayStation 4 to get it's launch price at $100 less than the Xbox One. 

The event starts at 3 p.m. ET Wednesday from the PlayStation Theater in New York.