Gaming
Games
PlayStation 5 – Everything we know so far
Sony’s next-gen console is on track for release in 2020 - a follow-up to the incredibly successful PS4. But many wonder just what's in store. Well, we're here to help with that.
With every new generation of consoles there’s genuine cause for excitement. As the months and years roll on and technology advances at a breakneck pace, we find more and more powerful hardware housed within the shell of every new PlayStation or Xbox released. There are also new games – where fancy new tech leads to more visual bells and whistles and, maybe, brand new ways to appreciate videogames.
Although we don’t know what the PlayStation 5 looks like (at the time of this writing) we do know a lot about what’s featured underneath its very mysterious hood. In addition to the prerequisite increase in overall horsepower, the biggest game-changer for the PlayStation 5 seems to come from its incredibly fast storage solution. This is something Sony firmly believes will change the direction of game development in the next few years. In fact, if there’s one word to describe the PlayStation 5 that would be “fast”.
From storage speeds that will make your jaw drop, to teraflop counts, to logo and name – here’s everything we know (so far) about the PlayStation 5.
Kratos is DEFINITELY PS5-bound. Like, 100%!
© SCE
It has been built using the latest AMD RDNA 2 architecture. A true next-gen leap for the simple reason that RDNA 2 isn’t even available in the PC space yet...
- First up we’ve got the name and a logo with no real surprises. Sony’s next-gen console will be the PlayStation 5 (PS5 for short), following in the footsteps of previous PlayStations. The logo keeps the same font seen with the PS4 and PS3, pointing to Sony keeping the well-known PlayStation and PS branding front and centre – and familiar.
- The PlayStation 5, like the Xbox Series X, will feature custom CPU and GPU hardware designed in collaboration with AMD. The CPU is based off of the company’s Zen 2 architecture which can be found in the third generation of AMD Ryzen products available on the PC market. In terms of raw numbers, the PS5’s CPU features 8 x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz.
- The CPU inside the PS5 represents a major leap forward in computing power when compared to the PlayStation 4, which plays into the new console’s focus on speed, in addition to more power.
- The GPU inside the PlayStation 5, which powers all the fancy graphics and visual effects, is a customised bit of hardware also developed in partnership with AMD. Like the Xbox Series X, it has been built using the latest AMD RDNA 2 architecture. A true next-gen leap for the simple reason that RDNA 2 isn’t even available in the PC space yet.
- The PS5 GPU features 36 CUs at 2.23GHz and is capable of 10.28 TFLOPs, big numbers that are comparable, horsepower-wise, to modern and very expensive PC parts.
Horizon Zero Dawn 2 is an absolute certainty for the PS5
© SCE
With ray-tracing support, true 3D positional audio is possible, meaning that the exact location of a footstep will come through on compatible headsets...
- In other hardware numbers the PS5 will feature 16GB of fast DDR6 memory or RAM.
- The PlayStation 5 will support full hardware ray-tracing for audio and lighting leading to better than ever – and more realistic – looking shadows, reflections, and overall global illumination. Ray-tracing is one of those next-gen visual features that will make PS5 games look better than anything possible on PS4.
- The PlayStation 5 has a renewed focus on audio with dedicated audio hardware that allows more immersive and clearer surround sound. With ray-tracing support, true 3D positional audio is possible, meaning that the exact location of a footstep will come through on compatible headsets.
- The PS5’s ground-breaking 3D Audio is being built using cutting-edge Head Related Transfer Function (HTRF) and “Tempest” 3D AudioTech, which is a fancy way of saying it maps an individual’s hearing and then positions the audio to make each object sound like it’s occurring all around you in real-time. According to Sony, “You’ll be able to hear raindrops hitting different surfaces all around you, and you can hear and precisely locate where an enemy is lurking behind you.”
Bethesda Games Studios' Starfield will be a PS5 title
- The PlayStation 5’s internal SSD storage solution is where the speed of the console becomes clearer. The PlayStation 4’s internal drive is capable of streaming 1GB of data every seven seconds. The PlayStation 5’s custom NVMe SSD can stream and load 5.5GB of data in one second. At the most basic level this means loading times in games will fall to only a handful of seconds.
- Because of the cutting-edge nature of the PS5’s SSD storage solution each console will launch with 825GB of space, which is less than the 1TB found in the PlayStation 4 Pro. The console will support expandable storage via an NVMe SSD slot – but it’s expected that this will be limited to the latest PC NVMe SSD drives which have just begun to hit the market.
- PS5 Dev Kits or "Development Kits" have been in the hands of developers for quite some time with images of these devices appearing online throughout 2019.
- The PlayStation 5 will be backwards compatible with PlayStation 4 games. Sony notes that at launch it is planning to support 100 of the most-played PS4 titles – and will open that up to all 4,000 and counting PlayStation 4 games. The reason for the rollout comes down to the PS5’s increased speed and power, with Sony advising it will be going through each game to make sure it runs as intended.
- On the backwards compatible front, Sony has confirmed that, much like with Microsoft, the PS5 will be able to render PS4 titles at higher resolutions and frame-rates. Giving us all another reason to replay the amazing God of War.
Ghost of Tsushima is a new franchise in-waiting for a PS5 debut
© SCE
- The PlayStation 5 will be compatible with the current PSVR headset, with an expected PSVR Version 2 expected at a later date.
- The PS5 will feature an updated DualShock controller with haptic feedback for greater force feedback and a new microphone. It is expected that the new DualShock will have the underside panels recently added to the PS4 version of the controller.
- Games officially confirmed to be coming to the console so far include:
- It has been heavily rumoured that Guerilla Games is working on a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn which is expected to be the PlayStation 5’s must-have launch title.
- Finally, the PlayStation 5 is on track for release in late 2020 with no confirmed date.
