Introduction to the PS5 – Features, Secs, Service and Accessories

This feature was updated: 04/02/2021

PlayStation 5 Specs: Introduction

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is an absolute powerhouse of a console. The console arrived in November 2020 and remains very hard to get hold of. 

The PS5’s raw technical power is impressive, making it a huge improvement on Sony’s PS5, the PlayStation 5’s specs make it a seriously impressive beast to look at on paper; a true winner from Sony. Here’s everything we know about the PS5’s technical specs and features – which, at this stage, is quite a lot!

Tech specs: Powerhouse PS5

The PS5 is a monster of a machine, due to the specs. It’ll have a custom Ryzen CPU with 8 Zen 2 cores and a GPU with 10.28 TFLOPs of power behind it. The machine is equipped with 16GB of GGDR6 RAM and an custom 825GB SSD (a slightly strange number, but we trust that Sony knows what it’s doing). You’ll be able to expand the console’s storage with an NVMe card and a USB HDD, and it’ll rock a 4K UHD Blu-ray drive (although there is also a digital only version of the console that doesn’t have a disc drive which will retail for less). Below are the official PS5 console specs, with each hardware component showcased in the table.

PS5 Specs:

Dimensions: According to Sony, the console is roughly 39cm (15.4 inches) tall, 26cm (10.2 inches) deep and 10.4cm (4.1 inches) wide.

Physical media: PS4, PS5, PSVR

There is a version of the PlayStation 5 which contains a a disc drive and one without, so you can decide whether your physical media collection is important. If you have PS4 games on your console, you’ll still be able to download and play them digitally, so you don’t need the disc version in order to take advantage of the PS5’s back-comp feature. However, if you do have a sizable PS4 library, you’ll still be able to play that via your PS5’s disc drive, so you don’t need to worry on that score either. In addition, PSVR games will also be compatible with the PS5 (more on which later).

Backwards compatibility: PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4

As we’ve stated, the PlayStation 5 will be fully backward-compatible with PlayStation 4 games, both on-disc and via the PlayStation Store. Unfortunately, it seems early rumours that the PS5 would support games from Sony’s classic console lineup are unfounded. You won’t be able to play your PS1, PS2, or PS3 library on your PS5, sadly, unless you own PS2 Classics on the store or play PS3 games via PlayStation Now streaming. PS4 PlayStation VR games will, however, be fully playable on PS5.

Software library: PS5 Games

The PlayStation 5’s software lineup is a doozy. Although we don’t know which games will accompany the console at launch, we know what’s coming, and it’s a veritable treasure trove. The Demon’s Souls remake has us most excited, but there’s also Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Resident Evil VIII: Village, Horizon: Forbidden West, and Gran Turismo 7, among many others. Click here if you want to see the games coming to PS5. 

The controller: DualSense controller

The PS5’s DualSense controller delivers to immerse players even more action than the PlayStation 4 could. That’s thanks to two major features: haptic feedback, which aims to simulate real-world actions via motors in the controller, and vibration motors in the triggers, which will give feedback when you’re drawing a bowstring or firing a weapon, for example. Your DualShock 4 will be compatible with the PS5, but only when you’re playing PS4 games, sadly.

Other peripherals: PS4 Accessories / PS5 Accessories

Whilst the PS5 has a variety of PS5 accessories available on release, Sony has said that most PS4 peripherals will work with the PS5. This includes specialty devices like racing wheels and flight sticks, as well as wireless headsets, the PS Move Motion Controllers, and the PlayStation VR Aim Controller. Officially-licensed third-party peripherals will work with supported PS4 games, but you might need to check with the manufacturer of your particular peripheral to make sure it’s supported on PS5. You can also use PlayStation Camera with PS5, but you’ll need a special adapter which Sony will ship out to you at no extra cost.

PlayStation VR

PlayStation VR is fully compatible with PS5, and it’s able to form the cornerstone of Sony’s strategy when it comes to VR for some years to come. While Sony is very likely working on PSVR’s successor, it’s not quite ready to see the light yet, so you’ll still be using your trusty PSVR headset with compatible PlayStation 5 games. Sony is making PSVR a huge part of its overall gaming strategy, so expect to see plenty of new announcements and reveals for the device in the near future. 

PlayStation Now

Sony says that PlayStation Now is definitely coming to the PS5. Unfortunately, we don’t have a huge amount of information regarding exactly how PlayStation Now will work on the new console. What we do know is this: right now, you can stream lots of PS2, PS3, and PS4 titles via PlayStation Now, and since that’s such an integral part of the service, it’s very unlikely to change on PS5. Rest assured that if you’re a retro fiend, PS Now will continue to be your streaming solution of choice on the new console.

Release date – When did the PS5 release?

The PS5 arrived November 12 2020 in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico and South Korea. The rest of the world, including the UK and Europe, enjoyed a release on November 19th 2020. You can keep checking stock, as the console remains hard to get, from how to get the PS5 page.