Sony reveals the features and design of the PS5. This one has almost no secrets if it is not its price that is lacking in appeal. In this article, we will write all the information you need to know.
The whole puzzle is already there. The PlayStation 5 has a certain shape in mind. A few months after Microsoft, which had launched almost everything about its Xbox Series X, Sony used an online conference broadcast online on June 11, 2020, to announce PS5 games, but also their long-awaited designs.
Processor, GPU, SSD storage, startup time, backward compatibility – we’ll tell you all about the PlayStation 5, which, despite rumors over the last few years, has announced a 100% dematerialized version like Google Stadia, which will become a physical console. But there is some truth to this story because the second version, the PS5 Digital Edition, doesn’t have a physical device.
The games will therefore only be accessible in a downloadable version on this model, but that does not make it a dedicated cloud gaming console.
PlayStation 5: release date
Sony has revealed the approximate release date for the PS5, which will launch in late 2020. There is growing evidence that the console will be available as early as mid-November or even late November. However, this date may only apply to the United States and Japan. Indeed, in a video broadcast briefly, on the YouTube channel of PlayStation, we learn that the release of the PS5 will be postponed by a few weeks in Africa and the rest of the world.
PS5: pre-orders will be by invitation
On August 27, 2020, Sony announced a pre-order program for the PS5. The company also confirmed that the consoles would be available in limited numbers at launch. In particular, Sony states that pre-orders will not be available to everyone on its site. Those who want a chance to pre-order the console on time will need to register first.
The firm will make a selection. First come will be first served, but other criteria will also come into play. This is the case with “past interests and PlayStation activities” of players, the company explains on its site.
PlayStation 5: price
Sony has revealed everything about the PS5 except the price, but the company has promised new conferences in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Carrefour may have announced the price of the console some time ago. The superstore posted pre-order pages for the PS5 before later removing them.
This publication tells that the Standard PS5 would be sold for 590$, and the one without a physical reader, the Digital Edition, would be offered 100 $ cheaper. Is this an error or a real blunder by Carrefour, which revealed that the prices were leaking before the official announcement? Difficult to say, but this information is perfectly in line with previous leaks on the price of the PS5.
PlayStation 5: technical sheet
Sony has already unveiled the technical sheet for the PS5. The firm has decided to maintain its partnership with AMD which will provide both the processor and the GPU of the console, all gathered in a powerful APU. The graphics chip is based on the RDNA 2 architecture, the latest from the founder of Santa Clara.
10.28 TFLOPS GPU and Ray Tracing Support
The new AMD RDNA 2 GPU of the PS5 benefits from the latest technological advances in graphics. The console will be able to take advantage of ray tracing for an ultra-realistic simulation of light and shadow effects. Spider-Man Mike Morales will be one of the first games to support ray tracing. The PS5 chip has 36 computing units and is clocked at 2.23 GHz. It will be able to deliver a raw computing power of 10.28 TFLOPs against 12 TFLOPs for the Xbox Series X.
AMD Ryzen 3 CPU (zen 2)
Processor level, the PS5 will also feature AMD’s third generation Ryzen CPUs with Zen 2 architecture and 7nm engraving. The 8-core processor is clocked at 3.5 GHz (variable frequency). The APU is supported by 16 GB GDDR6 RAM with 448 GB / s bandwidth
Ultra fast SSD
Sony has dwelled at length on this one of the most important advancements of the PS5: its SSD storage which will make the console even faster. Sony relied on a controller with a 12-channel interface. The PCIe 4.0 storage of the PlayStation 5 will be able to deliver a transfer speed of more than 5 Gb / s.
This allows for almost instant loading time. To give you an idea of the improvement over the PS4, note that the latter loads 1 GB of data in 20 seconds while the PlayStation 5 takes less than a second to load twice as much data. Sony announces in fact 0.27 seconds to load 2 GB of data.
The Japanese firm is not the only one to extol the merits of its console. God of War director Cory Barlog spoke highly of it. According to him, the SSD of the PS5 is simply amazing. He explains that for the last God of War, his studio managed to “hide all types of cargo”. So you yourself shouldn’t feel that “artificial layer” that can ruin the gaming experience.
8k definition and backward compatibility
Sony has so far been ahead in the 4K field by Microsoft, which the Xbox One X can boast of this advantage, unlike the PS4 Pro which relies on optimized upscaling to achieve its attribute of “4K capable”. But things are changing with the PS5 which will have native 4k and even be 8K compatible.
The PS5 will also be backwards compatible with the games of the current generation of the console. More than 4,000 PS4 games can be played on the PlayStation 5, Sony said. However, there will be only a hundred of the most popular titles when the console launches. Finally, for those still hoping for backward compatibility with PS3, PS2 and PS1 games, Ubisoft has hinted that it won’t.
A new 3D audio engine
Sony also introduced the new audio engine for the PS5 which has been dubbed Tempest Engin. It is a 3D engine capable of simulating 360 ° sound for a very realistic suround effect. The player will have the impression of hearing sounds coming from all directions, as in real life.
PS5 technical sheet: the recap
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 (Zen 2, Octa-core engraved in 7 nm), frequency of 3.5 GHz
- GPU: AMD Navi with 10.28 TFLOPs power with 36 CUs at 2.23 GHz, ray tracing support
- SSD: 1 TB with a speed of 5.5 Gb / s (write), this will drastically reduce the loading time
- Physical disc drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray
- Backward compatibility with PS4 games
What is certain in any case is that the PS5 will be a real change of generation. Not just a slightly more powerful 2.0 model.
A PS5 Pro in the boxes with two GPUs
Sony was working on a more powerful version of the console, as suggested by a patent published on July 30, 2020. This refers to a standard console whose gross GPU power would be around 10 TFLOPS like the PS5. There is also talk of a “high-end” version equipped with two GPUs, probably the future PS5 Pro. This version of the console will offer a raw power of 12 TFLOPS, which is almost two more than the PS5.
PS5: the new DualSense controller
On April 7, 2020, Sony introduced the new PS5 controller dubbed DualSense. The controller changes its name after 4 generations of DualShock. The design takes on a more modern air while retaining the basics of previous models. We thus find the directional keys on one side, the 4 action buttons: triangle, square, X and circle on the right, the two analog sticks on the lower part.
The four triggers haven’t changed except for the change in lean angle. But Sony has announced a major novelty for the L2 and R2 keys: adaptive pressure. What does that mean ? Simply that they will make the player feel a sense of tension when performing certain actions in games. For example, when you shoot an arrow, the buttons can make you feel the tension of the string then its release.
Finally, the controller also introduces innovative haptic feedback that replaces traditional vibrations. This will offer completely new sensations with a different feeling depending on the actions or events in the game. Finally, as regards the technical sheet of the controller, we only know that the DualSense should be equipped with a 1500 mAh battery of after a leak from leaker @ Galaxyrain666 on Twitter.
The controller would thus achieve an autonomy 3 to 4 hours greater than that of the DualShock 4. A patent recently filed by Sony also leaves between that the Dualsense could automatically recognize players based on certain biometric information.
PS5: what are the games in the line-up?
The design and the characteristics are certainly important but the difference between the Xbox Series X and the PS5 will be made once again on the side of the games catalog. Sony took advantage of its conference on June 11 to present the first games expected on the PS5.
We will find new episodes of popular franchises like Resident Evil 8, Sipder-Man 2 (Mike Morales) or Gran Turismo 7. Horizon Zero Dawn also offers a sequel called Horizon Forbidden West. There will also be new licenses like Project Athia.
PS5: Sony launches the marketing campaign
On August 20, 2020, while the official release date is still unknown, Sony released the first commercial for the PS5. This minute and 15 second video showcases immersive 3D audio and the new sensations of the DualSense controller.