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The launch of the first devices featuring HDMI 2.2 is scheduled for 2027. Around the same time, PlayStation 6 and the next-generation Xbox are also expected to hit the market. The overlap has raised growing questions about whether the new consoles will leverage the latest HDMI standard and offer 4K at a 240 Hz refresh rate.
HDMI 2.2 could debut alongside PlayStation 6 and the new Xbox
According to current information, the first devices equipped with HDMI 2.2 will appear on the market in 2027. That is also when the debut of PlayStation 6 and the next-generation Xbox is expected. A similar situation occurred with HDMI 2.1, which reached TVs before the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. That allowed the consoles to offer support for 4K at 120 Hz, variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic switching to game mode (ALLM). HDMI 2.2 increases bandwidth to 96 Gb/s, which makes it possible to transmit uncompressed 4K at 240 Hz and 8K at 60 Hz. With DSC compression the standard also enables 4K at 480 Hz and even higher specs. That does not mean Sony and Microsoft will definitely decide to implement HDMI 2.2. The new standard will only be necessary if manufacturers want to go beyond the current capabilities of HDMI 2.1. So far neither company has confirmed the specifications of their future consoles. There is also still a risk that shortages of RAM and SSDs will affect the launch schedule.
Support for 4K 240 Hz doesn't mean games will run at 240 frames per second
The introduction of HDMI 2.2 in new consoles doesn't mean major titles will run in native 4K at 240 frames per second. Instead, higher refresh rates could bring other benefits. One of them would be reduced input latency and smoother motion. The standard would also allow expanding VRR up to 240 Hz. Additionally, game developers would gain more freedom when designing performance modes. Rather than limiting themselves to 30, 40, or 60 frames per second, they could use options like steady 80 or 48 frames per second, which pair well with a 240 Hz refresh. A similar approach has already been used in games like Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon, and Hogwarts Legacy, which offered 40 FPS modes that took advantage of 120 Hz TVs. HDMI 2.2 could open the way to more performance variants without the need to reach 240 FPS. According to the HDMI Forum, TVs supporting 4K at 240 Hz are already being tested, suggesting the whole market is preparing for the next step in the evolution of video standards.
Although Sony and Microsoft have not yet revealed the specifications of their new consoles, HDMI 2.2 seems like a natural candidate for the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox. The standard could bring support for 4K at 240 Hz, providing lower latency, a wider VRR range and new possibilities for game developers.
source: flatpanelshd
