Details on the next gen console for Sony have been scant but lately we got a few official announcements. I have gathered together most of the official confirmed info we have so far for the upcoming Playstation 5……or at least the info that I think is important!
Quick note also….sadly the pic shown is not genuine. Nobody has official images of what Ps5 will look like.
The Name – PlayStation 5
Starting with the most basic, it has been confirmed that the next console from Sony will be called Playstation 5. This is in keeping with their numerical ascension for each generation’s release. I’m very happy that they haven’t followed Microsoft’s lead where numbers seem to hold no value! Hard to imagine what their fifth generation machine will be called since the current generation went with XBox One! Xbox Two? XBox 720? XBox Infinity???? Who knows!
SSD – Solid State Drive
The biggest obvious leap in the upcoming console is Sony’s use of a solid state hard drive. As PC users are aware already, SSDs dramatically reduce loading times and decent drives make loading times practically non-existent. With this tech incorporated into their next console we’ll hopefully get zero to minimal loading times when firing up our games.
Controller – Haptic Feedback & New Triggers/Shoulder Buttons
The controllers for the next gen will have two very noticeable upgrades. Firstly, haptic feedback rather than the rumble we’re all used to. Details are sparse but it’s indicated that feedback through the controller can be more refined and offer better immersion as your controller reacts differently depending on the scenario (in other words the feedback from crashing into a wall in ‘Gran Turismo’ should feel different to getting shot in ‘Call of Duty’).
The second updated feature is the shoulder buttons. They will now have more tactile feedback depending on the pressure placed on them and the scenario in-game. For example, you should be able to feel the tension as you press the button if you are drawing back the string on a bow. Sounds great & again a step in the right direction towards better immersion.
Backwards Compatible
A feature fans have been crying out for constantly is finally happening. All ps4 games will be playable on ps5, they share similar architecture which makes this possible. Games in both physical and digital format for ps4 will all be playable on the next gen console. I applaud this decision as the gap in improvements between each generation seem less and less (perhaps I’m just old but that’s how I feel). I will still happily play my ps4 titles for the next few years and it’s great to know that trading in my ps4 is an option once the new console arrives.
Tailored Game Installs
A new feature will give the user more options when it comes to installing games on your new console. Only ever play multiplayer on ‘Call of Duty’ games? Perfect, you will be able to select to only install the multiplayer portion if you want. Similarly if you purchase a game and only want the single player campaign, then you’ll be able to tailor the install to suit your needs thus bringing down the install time and getting you into your game quicker. (Obviously you can choose to install all parts of the game at any stage).
Release Date – Holiday 2020
Probably the most important piece of information so I’ve saved it for last. It’s confirmed that the Playstation 5 will release in holiday 2020 (Holiday means December for us non-Americans). So time to get your lists drawn up for Santa next year folks!!
What are your thoughts on the details so far? I’ve not mentioned ray-tracing, usb-c ports, 3D audio, PSVR or even the CPU chip!!! Are these talking points you hold dear? What feature are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below.
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