That’s it, it is official. After months of teasing the capabilities of its future console, Sony announced via a publication on its Japanese site that the next-generation PS5 will be released next year. This is an opportunity for the manufacturer to confirm that its next console will be called “PlayStation 5”
So, when the PS5 Prototype is coming out?
The PS5 prototype release date will be at the end of 2020, that’s what the Japanese company said last week. The next-generation device, whose contours were unveiled last April, will be called PlayStation 5 and will be available in time for the end-of-year celebrations. No prices have been announced yet.
We already knew that the console would no longer incorporate a conventional hard drive, but an SSD, which will allow games to start faster. Jim Ryan, the new CEO of Sony PlayStation, offered some details about the replacement of the PlayStation 4 with which it will ensure a smooth transition and not a break.
New features
Mark Cerny, chief architect of PlayStation, confirmed some very interesting elements of the specs to Wired. Thus we learn that the PS5 Prototype will be able to deliver graphics in 8K with Ray Tracing and 3D audio. Here are some specific points of its technical sheet:
- SoC AMD Ryzen 3rd Generation (7nm, Zen 2 + GPU Navi)
- The ultra-fast internal SSD storage
- Ray Tracing managed by a dedicated GPU signed AMD
- 8K
- Backward compatibility with PS4 games
- 3D sound
- 4K Blu-Ray player
Powerful processors
The PS5 will be equipped with a processor and a graphics chip manufactured by AMD. It is reported that the processor will be based on the 3rd generation of the AMD Ryzen line with 8 cores of the new 7nm Zen 2 microarchitecture.
The PS5 prototype will have a RDNA GPU capable of ray tracing hardware; we recall that it would be a semi-custom GPU sharing the same RDNA bases as the Radeon Navi launched this year.
Built-in SSD and Ultra HD 120 Hz
Among the new features, the PS5 Prototype will load games much more quickly, while retaining an optical disc drive and immersive surround sound. In his interview with Cnet.com, Jim Ryan said that a specially developed Sony SSD storage disk for PS5 will be present by default. It also revealed that it will support ultra HD at 120 Hz, double of the refresh rate of most current TVs.
During a presentation, Sony compared the loading times of the PlayStation 5 with those of the PS4 Pro. The loading time of Spider-Man is 0.83 seconds, versus 8.10 seconds for the PS4 Pro. In addition, the PS5 will allow players to install only certain parts of a game to reduce loading times. You can choose to install the campaign mode and leave the multiplayer mode for later and vice versa.
RAM
Regarding the RAM, the PlayStation 5 provides you with 24 GB for better storage quality and energy saving. For faster loading and installation of games, this technology beast offers 2TB of SSD.
Ray tracing- more realistic graphics
The graphics chip is based on the AMD Radeon Navi series; it is compatible with definitions of up to 8K and offers around 13 teraflops.
Moreover, thanks to ray tracing, the next-generation PlayStation 5 should enjoy a much better rendering of lighting.
This technology is very popular among PC gamers since it is used in Nvidia RTX graphics cards. Sony, however, has entrusted the design of its graphics chip to AMD (generation Navi) and ensures that all ray-tracing calculations will be made in real-time, thus offering high-quality textures and ensuring enhanced realism.
Backward compatibility and cross-generational play
The PS5 Prototype will support backward compatibility with PS4 games. The Japanese manufacturer will go even further with the feature called “cross-generational play”.
The option will allow PS4 players to start a game on their current console and continue on PS5 using their saved data. No need to start from Zero. Also, PlayStation 5 players will be able to play with the players remaining on PS4.
A better interface
In terms of the interface, the PS5 Prototype promises a new and practical one, especially with regard to access to information. We will see directly on the main menu which activity will propose each game (solo as multiplayer), to avoid having to launch each of them to check it. It is very convenient for players who want to join their friends faster in a game.
PlayStation Assist
Here is another innovative feature, which is expected to be integrated in the PS5. Sony has developed its own voice assistant, which we will call PlayStation Assist for lack of an official name. The wizard would be able to answer a variety of gaming issues during gaming sessions, providing players with hints and tricks in real-time. In this way, they would not have to stop playing in order to search for help on the Web.
The wizard would also work on mobile phones via an app that would provide statistics about games, as well as live information about what’s going on in a particular game. This is something that has not been done yet and those other intelligent assistants cannot offer. Sony is far from confirming this feature, but who knows? There are even rumors that there is a small hole on the new DualShock controller similar to a microphone and a recent patent showing that Sony is developing an artificial intelligence assistant for the PlayStation 5.
What about the PS5 controller?
The vibration function of the PlayStation 5 controllers has been improved with haptic technology. It allows you to feel a greater variety of reactions than before. “Crashing against a wall in a car race brings a different feeling than a tackle on a football field, you can even run in the grass and feel the sensation of walking in the mud,” says Sony.
The haptic feedback simulates touch, which means that the controller will emit accurate vibrations or movements to reproduce a real tactile experience in order to improve the feedback of the controller and enhance the immersion of the player.
In addition, the L2 and R2 buttons of the controller have also been modified, with “adaptive triggers”. The developers will be able to program the resistance so that they can feel the sensation of strongly tightening an arrow bow or that of the acceleration of an off-road vehicle on a rocky field. Also, the battery of the Dualshock 5 will be bigger and better than that of the Dualshock 4. The controller of PlayStation 5 is charged with USB-C.
A dematerialized and 100% wireless console, plus a new design! Is it true?
The idea of a cloud-based console has long been on the side of all console manufacturers, including Sony. A console in the cloud is the ability to stream games from an overpowered server.
Potentially Sony could use it to leverage the power of the PS5 Prototype without increasing its price. The evolution towards full dematerialization is a great trend at Sony who launched Playstation Network, PS Now and PlayStation TV.
It might be that Sony is intending to abandon the concept of a physical console in favor of a cloud-based platform. This still seems to be the subject of internal reflection. Still no official announcement about the PS5 Prototype design, however, LetsGoDigital tried to provide us with a first glimpse of the design, which is expected to be V-shaped to improve airflow and prevent overheating of the next-generation PlayStation 5, thus, making it quieter.
As reported above, the PS5 would be completely Wireless; in addition to the disk drive, the only true cable would be the console power cable. Therefore, the volume occupied by the console would be extremely decreased compared to the previous generation.
The final version of the PlayStation 5 on the market will probably look different. The colors, in any case, should be faithful. The top of the console is bright silver, the front, and vents on the sides are in black plastic. Several keys and LEDs are placed on the 4K hard disk.
What design will the PS5 Prototype ultimately have? It is difficult to know. According to recent sources, it seems that the images of V-shaped Dev Kits that have been circulating on the Internet for months correspond to reality.
Is there a new VR headset for the PS5?
According to the latest rumors, PlayStation VR 2 will be released together with the PS5. It will be wireless, more mobile, have built-in cameras and a transparent mode, enabling us to see the real surrounding world. It would show a better definition. The current model offering 1920 x 1080 overall, we can hope for an Ultra HD on the PSVR2. This virtual reality headset comes with a new PlayStation Camera and new PS Move. And according to the same rumors, Sony would also work on compatible gloves.
The latest official information comes from the lead designer of the PS4 and now the PS5. Mark Cerny says virtual reality remains a priority for Sony. No chance, therefore, that the idea is abandoned with the PlayStation 5.
According to what was stated above, the PlayStation VR, virtual reality headset will also have backward compatibility. VR is, therefore, a must for PS5. There was no doubt already given the number of games and projects planned using this accessory.
Everything about the games
The games will be 100 GB optical discs that will work in a 4K Blu-ray player. Recall also that PS4 games will be compatible, which has the merit of being very practical to finish our old titles! Another novelty, the installation of games on the console will be quite different.
The PS5 architect Mark Cerny says that unlike PS4, we will not have to install an entire game like a big block of data. It will be possible for example to install the multiplayer mode of a title without the rest, which makes life easier for gamers, who are exclusively focused on online modes!
It should be noted that some PS5 games have been cited by Sony in their latest blog post.
They were mentioned in the idea that they are exclusive PS4 games, which are obviously the two giants of the coming months: Death Stranding and Final Fantasy 7.
In addition, RuthenicCookie said that the latest PlayStation 4 games, including Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima, would be launched on PlayStation 5.
Also, CD Projekt Red mentioned that it is not only developing for today’s technology, but also for the next generation. With developer kits for the PS5 that are already said to be in circulation, this could mean that the next chance for the Polish studio will be that Cyberpunk 2077 will be one of the first PS5 titles.
According to the rumor, Guerilla Games could launch Horizon Zero Dawn 2 as the first title. After all, the Dutch are looking for new employees for a new game that changes the ordinary. Thus, this game could be one of the first titles of the PS5.
Gran Turismo Sport and the PSVR title Astro Bot Rescue Mission are already in the demo version of the Dev Kits of the PS5 to illustrate the possibilities of the new console. The controller’s new features should be particularly useful for racing games.
Based on job offers, since this is what speaks the most from a monetary point of view. 47 positions are currently offered at Santa Monica Studios, dealing with only one franchise: God of War.
God of War 2 may not be available at the launch of the PS5, but it is possible that it does not wait too long, especially if Sony is extending a lot of money to increase the workforce and the speed of development.
Moreover, a leak suggests that the PlayStation 5 would also be compatible with older Sony consoles, namely the PS1, the PS2, and the PS3. And still according to the same leak, backward compatibility would be 100% assured. It remains to be seen if the oldest games will benefit from a little graphic enhancement or if they will be displayed as they are.
The PlayStation 5 will be Climate-friendly
With the PS5 release date being scheduled for the end of 2020, Sony has partnered with the United Nations to announce a new feature specific to its next console. To reduce the carbon footprint of its PlayStation 5, Jim Ryan announced that the option to suspend a game will consume even less electricity than the previous model (about 0.5W according to the official statement). In doing so, the firm joins the program “Playing for the Planet” set up by the UN.
The price of the Playstation 5
The PS5 will be released at the end of the year 2020, during the Christmas holidays. The brand is obviously looking to take advantage of the lucrative end-of-year period to sell as many consoles as possible. The PS5 release date also likely depends on the announced launch window of Microsoft’s Xbox Scarlett, which is expected at the same time.
From a pricing point of view, the first rumors mention a rate a little higher than the PS4. Mark Cerny, chief architect of PlayStation, believes that “the console will come out at a suggested retail price that will appeal to players given its advanced features.” The man already justifies the price increase. According to a leak, the PlayStation 5 would come out at a price of €499, or €100 more than the PS4 at its launch. A specialized analyst contradicts these estimates. According to him, the PS5 would be sold at the same price as the PS4, or at €400.
To conclude, we remind you that the PS5 release date will be at the end of 2020. Even though there are many rumors about certain innovations in the PlayStation 5, we are certain that the new console will offer unique gaming experiences.
The PS5 could be quite similar to the Xbox Scarlett, the next Microsoft console unveiled at the E3 2019 (scheduled for late 2020), however, some developers point out that the Sony console would be more powerful. This is thanks to the list of new features offered by the Japanese console; Ray Tracing, a reviewed and more immersive DualShock, reduced loading times, a 4K Blu-Ray player and of course the backward compatibility with PS4 games and maybe the other PlayStation consoles. Thus, the PS5 holds both the past and future of PlayStation, allowing players to enjoy a smooth transition between the two consoles and even take pleasure in some of their preferred retro games.
We, from our side, wish that all the rumors could be true because we will be expecting something big! Until then, all we can do is wait, and we will be providing you with more news about the PlayStation 5. Stay tuned!