It’s official: the PlayStation 5 is coming, and we should all be very excited indeed. Sony says its new machine will hit stores around holiday season 2020, which means we’re probably gearing up for a November-December release. Though we don’t know what games we’ll be getting with the machine yet – along with the appearance of the controller, the online setup, and more – we think there are still plenty of reasons to get excited about the PS5. Here are ten of those reasons.
It’s another Sony console
Sony is the leading light when it comes to video game consoles, and there’s no reason to think the PlayStation 5 will be any different. The company consistently knocks it out of the park when it comes to games, hardware, and everything else that gaming has to offer, so the PS5 is an exciting proposition for this reason alone. There’s a good reason people come to Sony consistently, not just for gaming but also for electronics in general. Sony has a proven track record when it comes to tech.
The previous PlayStation consoles were all great
Can you think of a single duff PlayStation venture? Even the PlayStation Vita, which is arguably the least well-received machine of all Sony’s hardware outings, is an excellent and misunderstood handheld with some truly great games on it. The PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 are all knockout consoles that were essential purchases in their day. We have no reason whatsoever to think that the PlayStation 5 won’t continue Sony’s remarkable run of form in this regard.
The games
Although we don’t know exactly what games will be appearing on the PlayStation 5 as of yet, we have some idea. Hideo Kojima’s divisive masterpiece Death Stranding will likely make an appearance, as will Sucker Punch’s upcoming open-world game Ghost of Tsushima. Ubisoft recently delayed Watch Dogs Legion until the 2020-21 financial year, so we’re expecting to see that on the PS5 as well. Finally, CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 is almost guaranteed.
The solid state drive
One of the most important features of the new PlayStation 5 is its solid-state drive. It’s the first console in the PlayStation series to use a drive that isn’t a traditional spinning disc option. What this means in practice is smooth loading times, massive draw distances, and the ability to draw up and read data in less than a second. Sony has said that a scene that previously took fifteen seconds to load in the PS4’s Marvel’s Spider-Man now takes less than one. Remarkable.
Ray tracing
Lead architect Mark Cerny has already announced that the PlayStation 5 will have ray tracing technology built into it. Ray tracing is a method of rendering graphics that uses real-time light tracing to outline objects. In practice, it means that everything will look shinier, newer, and more realistic than it ever has before. Expect the PlayStation 5 to boast some truly incredible graphics as a result of its custom AMD graphics chip and ray tracing.
The controller
We don’t yet know exactly what the DualShock 5 (name not final) will look like. As of now, the only official word we have is an article in Wired, which says the prototype looks a lot like the DualShock 4. That’s not unusual; while the console is in development, Sony will probably want to use something familiar so they can focus on the more innovative parts of the PS5. Still, the controller has been a strong part of the PlayStation’s appeal for many years, and the DualShock 5 will probably continue this legacy.
The sound
In the aforementioned interview with Wired, lead architect Mark Cerny says that sound is a major focus of the PlayStation 5. Sony is aiming to simulate surround sound on even TVs that don’t have the feature, which means you’ll always be immersed in your gaming experiences. Cerny uses the word “presence” to describe what the PlayStation 5’s sound chip will be capable of; you’ll be able to experience sounds coming at you from left, right, above, and below.
The adaptive triggers
Though we don’t know too much about the DualShock 5, we do know that the controller for the PS5 will include adaptive triggers. These triggers will provide haptic feedback based on what you’re using them for. If you’re wading through mud, the triggers – and the controller in general – will feel muddy. Similarly, if you’re firing a shotgun, it will feel very different to when you fire a machine gun. The controller will add to the PS5’s mission of total immersion.
PlayStation VR
Mark Cerny says that the PlayStation 5 will be fully compatible with PSVR, which is good news for those of us who shelled out a lot for Sony’s VR device at launch. Though Sony is remaining tight-lipped about its VR strategy going forward, it’s inevitable that Cerny and his team will want to replace the virtual reality system at some point in the PS5’s life cycle. PSVR is already impressive, so the PlayStation 5’s version of it will be truly remarkable. Until then, we can still enjoy PSVR in all its glory on PS5.
8k resolution
The PlayStation 5 will definitely support 8k resolution when it launches in late 2020. By then, we’re expecting commercially viable 8k sets to start appearing, so this is great news for fans of incredible visuals (which, of course, should be all of us). Playing games in breathtaking 8k resolution is an experience that needs to be seen to be believed, and thanks to Sony and the PlayStation 5, we’re all going to start seeing it very soon indeed. Get your 8k sets now!
Excitingly, we’re working on some special deals of which we hope to pass to all fans of PS5 Home, meaning you’ll be able to save money on your pre-order. As time approaches will let you know more.
