The release of the PS4 Pro has unlocked 4K gaming for anyone who's already invested in a 4K TV as well as anyone considering a new TV. But it seems there is a problem, and it's a problem Sony has caused with the latest version of the PS4 firmware.
When the PS4 Pro launched last month it shipped with firmware version 3.70, but was soon replaced with version 4.00, which unlocked a number of PS4 Pro specific features including High Dynamic Range (HDR). More recently, Sony released version 4.05 on October 25 with the description stating, "This system software update improves the quality of the system performance."
This latest firmware is causing a major issue for some 4K TV owners, however. After installing it, a PS4 Pro can no longer display a video signal on certain 4K TV models. It could leave you thinking your PS4 Pro has been bricked, but don't worry, there is a fix.
Reddit user Bravo514 experienced the no signal problem on his Vizio D Series 4K TV. After some experimentation a workaround was discovered, which I've included below:
- Make sure your PS4 is turned off
- Plug the HDMI lead into the 4K 60hz port on your TV
- Turn your TV on
- Hold down the power button on your PS4 until it beeps twice (Safe Mode)
- Change the HDCP setting to 1.4 only
- The PS4 will restart and you'll probably still have no signal
- Turn the PS4 off and get back to Safe Mode (step 4)
- Choose change resolution which will restart the PS4
- If you get an image after the PS4 restarts then choose the yuv420 option. Hooray!
- If you continue to get no signal after the PS4 restarted then go back to Safe Mode and change HDCP to automatic
- Go back to Safe Mode again and choose change resolution and then choose yuv420
- If it's still not working then try the above steps a couple more times
This isn't the only issue firmware version 4.05 seems to be causing. Another Reddit user by the name of biostang experiences a blank screen "for a few seconds every ten minutes" when using the console "in 1080p on the 4K/60hz input."
Polygon points out that these problems are being experienced on TVs manufactured by LG, Hisense, and Vizio, but in particular older models of 4K TVs. There's some incompatibility that's been introduced with regards to the HDCP digital copy protection used by the HDMI link between the PS4 Pro and the TV.
One further issue not related to the firmware is the HDMI ports on your TV. In order for the PS4 Pro to output 4K at 60Hz it requires the use of HDMI 2.0, or more specifically HDMI 2.0a and HDCP 2.2 in order for HDR to work. A number of TVs ship with a mix of HDMI 2.0 and the older HDMI 1.4 ports, so it's important to check which connection to use. There may also be a setting that needs to be changed on your TV so as to enable HDR, so dig out the manual and start reading.
One final thing to note is that Sony will be aware of the firmware issues and is probably already hard at work creating the next version including a fix.