YouTube adds support for HDR videos

YouTube is enabling support for high-dynamic-range (HDR) color in its videos today, just a few days ahead of the release of the PlayStation 4 Pro, the company announced today.Users will be able to stream HDR content as long as they have displays that support the enhanced color technology. YouTube has supported 4K video for quite some time, but HDR is a new addition to the platform. Those with HDR-capable televisions and the new Chromecast Ultra, for example, or those who have a computer hooked up to an HDR-enabled monitor, will be the first wave of users who can stream YouTube videos with an increase in clarity, color and contrast.
“As more HDR devices become available, YouTube will work with partners to enable streaming of the HDR version,” the blog post says.
YouTube users can upload videos mastered in HDR as of today, which is particularly interesting for those who want to upload HDR footage from the PS4 Pro. HDR is one of the main selling points of the console, so if players have a capture kit that can handle HDR video, they should be able to take PS4 Pro footage and upload it to YouTube.
The Pro may be one of the more powerful consoles to support HDR games, but Microsoft announced earlier this year that its new console, codenamed Scorpio, will support native 4K gaming and HDR. The Xbox One S, the slimmer version of Microsoft’s existing console, also supports HDR content. The addition of HDR doesn’t mean that there’s an increase in pixels — like what you’d get going from 1080p to 4K resolution — but it takes full advantage of them, offering a wider range of color, contrast and brightness. Essentially, you’ll be able to pick out more detailed features in a game or movie that you may have missed before.
The PlayStation 4’s YouTube app has not yet been updated with support for 4K or HDR. Sony said in September during the console’s reveal that an updated app is on the way, but that it won’t be available in time for the system’s Nov. 10 launch. None of this matters, however, if you don’t have an HDR-enabled TV or monitor to view it.
YouTube is also looking to work with additional partners as more HDR-supported devices become available to consumers. More information on how to upload HDR videos to YouTube can be found here. Polygon has reached out to YouTube for more information.
Por este andar o HDR vai ser padrão em todo a lado em poucos anos.