Sony’s PS5 packs a punch in the performance department, offering lightning-fast load-up times and an immersive experience unlike anything else we’ve seen from consoles.
Pre-orders for the PS5 were sold out in September, and we haven’t seen any other batches pop up. Unless you were one of the lucky ones to snag a pre-order, you’ll probably be waiting to get your PS5 at least a few days (maybe weeks?). That gives you some time to look past the hype and see if it’s a console you want to upgrade to.
Let’s look at what we know and don’t know about the PS5.
What We Know
With PS5’s release date right around the corner, there’s a lot that we know and still don’t know about this next-gen console. First, let’s look at the confirmed information that’s been circulating in the news.
PS5 Release Date and Price
- November 12, 2020
- Standard – $499 / MYR 2,299 / RS 49,990
- Digital – $399 / MYR 1,869 / RS 39, 990
Not surprisingly, PS5 is slated for release just as the holiday season kicks off, cementing our point on why people should get PlayStation Gift Cards for the Holidays. Prices were around what everyone was expecting. The Digital Edition offers a new option that allows more budget-conscious buyers to save money.
PS5 Specifications: What We Know
Sony kept us all waiting at the edges of our seats for any information about the PS5’s performance and specifications.
Now that we have more information, it’s clear that this console truly is the next generation. We’re all going to enjoy a completely new level of immersion never before seen in the industry.
Let’s take a closer look at these specs:
- SSD drive for lightning-fast load times
- CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
- 16GB GDDR6 RAM
- 3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
- 825GB SSD
- NVMe M.2 SSD slot for storage expansion
- 4K Blu-ray player
- 9 lb. weight
- 4” x 10.2” x 4.1”
The specs are really impressive, but if you take a closer look, you’ll see one glaring problem that everyone is complaining about: size. The PS5 is gargantuan. It completely dwarfs virtually every other gaming system that’s been released in the last decade. It’s also much bigger than the Xbox Series X (its main competitor).
Size may not be everything, but for people who are short on space, this may be a deal-breaker. One thing to note here is that the PS5 comes with a special stand that allows you to store it vertically or horizontally. This gives you a little flexibility if your entertainment space is limited.
Nevertheless, it’s the PS5’s large size that allows it to offer such a beefed-up performance.
Before I dig further into the specs, I want to talk very briefly about the two versions of this console: digital and standard.
- Digital Edition: $100 cheaper, but doesn’t have a Blu-ray player. Games are downloaded digitally with no other option.
- Standard Edition: $100 more, but has a Blu-ray player. This gives you the ability to download games or purchase physical copies.
It’s important to note that both of these versions have the exact same performance power.
What About Ports?
The PS5 has your standard collection of ports, including:
- USB Type-C SuperSpeed
- 2 x Type-A Hi-Speed in the back and one in front
- Ethernet jack
- AC adapter
- HDMI 2.1 port
What About Storage?
The PS5 has an 825GB SSD drive, which sounds like a lot, but next-gen games are going to take up a lot more space than games of the past. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War alone requires 130GB of space.
It’s safe to say that most players will want to expand their storage. Thankfully, PS5 lets you do that.
The PCIe 4.0 M.2 expansion slot gives you the option of boosting your storage space. You’ll have to use special PS5-certified SSDs to meet Sony’s bandwidth requirements. You can connect your standard external hard drive, but you’ll only be able to transfer your PS4 save files or games.
What About Performance?
With up to 120fps, ray-traced visuals, and a super-fast SSD, the PS5’s performance is naturally impressive. Load times are virtually instant, making it easier to hop right into a game.
Analysis of the PS5 shows that the next-gen console is nearly two times faster than the PS4. The advanced system is capable of loading 2GB of data in just a quarter of a second.
The PS5 DualSense Controller
Sony’s DualSense controller is making just as many waves as the console itself. Adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and a built-in speaker help create a truly immersive experience while gaming.
Triggers adapt to whatever is going on in the game. If you’re pushing a spring, you’ll feel that resistance when pressing down – just as you would in real life.
But the controller goes beyond just feeling. To move an ice platform in Astro’s Playroom (a free, built-in game that shows you how the controller works), you have to blow into the controller. How’s that for immersion?
Vibrations are incredibly nuanced to match the action in the game, so sliding down a hill of sand into a bed of larger rocks would shift from light vibrations to massive rumbling.
The built-in microphone allows you to chat with friends even if you don’t have a headset. It’s not going to replace your gaming headset, but it will work in a pinch.
Like the console itself, the DualSense controller is bigger than the DualShock 4. Trigger movement and buttons use are pretty standard.
PS5 Accessories
The PS5 has no shortage of accessories. Here’s what we know is available (for sure) right now:
- DualSense Controllers ($70 each). The console only comes with one, so if you’re interested in couch co-op, you’ll need another one.
- DualSense Charging Station ($29.99). Makes it easy to charge your controllers anywhere.
- PS5 HD Camera ($60). A more advanced version of the PS4 camera that allows you to stream footage of your gameplay right from your console. If you’re a streamer, you’ll appreciate that convenience.
- PS5 Media Remote ($30). Like other PlayStation consoles, you can use the PS5 to stream movies and TV shows. You can also watch Blu-ray movies. The media remote makes it easier to access this content, so if you plan to use your console for streaming, the remote is a good buy. It even has quick launch buttons for Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and Spotify.
- Pulse 3D Wireless Headset ($99.99). Sony’s headset is fine-tuned for PS5’s 3D audio. It’s noise-canceling, has its own built-in rechargeable battery, and also includes easy-access controls.
Backwards Compatibility
The PS5 offers backwards compatibility with PS4. Both digital versions of PS4 games and physical disc games will work with the PS5.
There was a rumor that the console would also be compatible with PS3 games, but we now know that it won’t be.
VR Compatibility
If you have played any VR games on the PS4, you’ll be happy to hear that you can also play them on the PS5.
Of course, you’ll need a PS VR headset, DualShock 4 controller, PS4 Camera, and Move Controllers to play any of these games.
PS5 Audio Specs
Sony is no stranger to audio. They developed their own 360 Reality Audio format for music, and for the PS5, they did the same thing. They created their own 3D audio format that promises to transform your gaming experience.
Sony says their 3D audio is so powerful that you’ll be able to hear and tell where individual raindrops are falling in the game’s environment.
Simply put, 3D audio makes you feel like things are really happening around you. Prior to the 3D audio, consoles tried to mimic this effect by boosting the volume of something as you got closer to it in the environment. 3D audio uses audio algorithms to create natural, lifelike sounds that trick the brain into trying to pinpoint the exact location of every sound.
Sony says that they use object-based spatial sound technology to bring their 3D audio concept to life. Their technology is an expansion on what’s used in the PSVR headset, so that should give you an idea of how immersive the audio will be.
To put it into perspective, the PS5 can replicate hundreds of intricate sounds at better quality than the PSVR. This is huge for game developers because they can focus on more than just the visuals. With the DualSense controller, 3D audio, and amazing graphics, it creates a truly immersive, 3D experience that engages most of your senses.
Moving outside of the internal audio components, Sony decided to get rid of the optical audio port that was in the PS4. This development may be disappointing to people with high-end audio devices.
PS5 Games – Launch and Beyond
Above is the game box design for the upcoming PS5 games. The list of PS5 games is growing, and it will only continue as we head into the holiday season. Here’s a list of the titles we know about so far:
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
- Marvel Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Gran Turismo 7
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- Sackboy A Big Adventure
- Returnal
- Godfall
- Deathloop
- Destruction AllStars
- Demon’s Souls
- EA Sports FIFA 21
- NBA 2K21
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Resident Evil Village
- Hogwarts Legacy
Many of these titles won’t be dropping until 2021, but you’ll still have a decent selection of games at launch. Remember to grab your PSN Gift Cards from OffGamers! In fact, if these games don’t entice you, check this out: 9 Top PlayStation Games To Buy With Your PlayStation Gift Card in 2020.
Speculation
Voice Assist
We haven’t heard much about PS5’s potential voice assist feature lately, but there’s been quite a bit of speculation about it. So far, there’s no info on the console’s web page, but that doesn’t mean that the technology isn’t built into it.
Back in May, it was reported that there’s a patent describing some sort of in-game information system. According to the patent, the system would be able to provide tips and tricks for tough parts of games, and it may even be able to tell you how long it will take to beat the entire game or parts of it.
On the patent documents, there’s an image showing the potential information platform asking the player if they’d like to continue on for 45 minutes on their current level, or switch to a different game that they can complete more quickly.
It sounds like this may also be tied to a parental control system (the image depicts a child playing the game) or some sort of timing system to keep your gaming habits in check.
Sony hasn’t said anything about a voice assist feature, and there’s no recent information about it anywhere. Time will tell whether this is something that Sony will pursue.
UI and Interface
There’s speculation that PS5’s interface is barebones. Allegedly, it leaves a lot to be desired in the looks department, but it’s still speedy and gets the job done.
Looking at screenshots from reviewers, it’s a minimalistic, clean interface that should be familiar to anyone who uses Netflix.
The Home Screen is basically your gaming hub. You’ll be able to easily view and browse through your games, and you’ll also be able to see news related to each game as well as videos DLCs and more.
There’s no option to customize the Home Screen wallpaper. It changes with each game you select. This may disappoint some users, but it seems like many interfaces are moving in this direction.
The PlayStation Store is easily accessible from the Home Screen, which makes it easy to find and buy new games. There’s no need to launch a separate app just to see what’s available, which is such a time-saver. Previously, finding and buying games was clunky and inconvenient.
The console’s clean but smartly designed interface carries through into gameplay. Just tap the PS5 button while you’re playing to bring up the Activities menu. Here, you can view the progress on your current mission and even view a list of achievements you can go for. It’s a helpful menu for those times when you’re stuck and don’t know where to go next or just want something new to try.
Those who have been lucky enough to give the PS5 a test drive before launch has revealed most of what we want to know about this console. A few mysteries remain, but we’ll see what Sony has up their sleeves at launch and in the following weeks.
