ok,
By now everyone knows PS4 has 8GB of GDDR5 RAM.
Most should know that up until yesterday's meeting ALL rumors stated that it would only come with 4GB of GDDR5 RAM.
Most should also know by now that even developers have been working up until NOW only 4GB of GDDR5 RAM for games, though dev kits had 8GB which is normal as dev kits always have more RAM than retail units.
Finally, Most should know that ALL rumors for neXtBox have it also having 8GB of RAM, however its DDR3... slower is biggest difference.
So here is my possible theories.
1) Sony realized they'd have 1/2 the RAM of their competitor where overall the rest of their system is equal or greater. So they simply made a last minute decision to go to full 8GB. This also means that likely the next round of dev kits will have >8GB GDDR5 ram so the devs can appropriately code for the full amount available to them while still having RAM available to their dev tools.
2) Sony always planned on having 8GB of RAM in the final retail unit, HOWEVER devs and others only knew about 4GB because the rest was secured solely for all the always on information behind the games. (i.e. 4GB is reserved for games and 4GB is reserved for OS)
Think about the features they talked about. Always recording your gameplay so you can instantly share any screeshot or video segments. Always running opportunity to stream your content to someone else who can even play your game at will. Downloading and playing simulatneously. Cross game features of video and/or voice chat. As well as others.
This all takes up a good amount of resources, especially RAM. Additionally, even though neXtBox has had 8GB rumored all along, the accompanying rumor is that it will eat up 3 or more GBs of that RAM for the OS as well.
What do you think?
