The Subdued Detailing of the PlayStation 5
Based off history, it was easy to imagine just how Sony would reveal the next-generation PlayStation console. They’d reveal details about it to the press at an event and show previews of games that might represent what software on system could resemble – keeping in mind that early software previews can be very misleading. The process mostly worked for the company with previous reveals (PlayStation 3 aside, though there were several more reasons why that system faltered out the gate), so there was no reason to alter it.
But they have. It was hinted that Sony would try a different approach with the new PlayStation system’s reveal over a year ago, when they cancelled their PlayStation Experience event. But this was definitely clear when they also skipped E3 2019, which marked the first time they shunned the convention since entering the gaming industry. It’s instead been Microsoft that’s stuck to this approach with detailing their next Xbox system, codenamed “Project Scarlett,” while Sony is taking a more direct approach.
As in, they’re going directly to the internet minimal little fanfare. When Sony revealed details of the system through an interview with PlayStation 4 architect Mark Cerny through Wired in April, it wasn’t just a one-off; it was the start of a trend, one they followed up with another interview this week.
The biggest detail from this week is how Sony will be calling the next console – get this – the PlayStation 5. Sure, everyone guessed that, but a small part of me was hoping they’d shake it up and go with something different this time around. As previously confirmed, the system will support ray tracing in its GPU hardware for realistic lighting effects in games. The software itself will come on 100GB optical discs, meaning games will be even larger compared to this console generation. This isn’t too surprising given how upcoming games like Final Fantasy VII Remake and The Last of Us: Part II are coming on two Blu-ray discs. The drive will also double as a 4K Blu-ray player, which Sony was criticized for not including with the PlayStation 4 Pro.
Sony will keep the same basic DualShock design with the PS5 controller, but it will have key differences. The triggers will offer feedback to make shooting a bow or gun feel more authentic, increasing the potential for players to live out their murder simulator fantasies. It will also have improved haptic feedback, in a feature that sounds similar to the Nintendo Switch’s HD Rumble. There’s also a mysterious hole on the controller whose purpose will be explained in the near future — no jokes please.
All of this follows up on information provided during the last interview, where Cerny confirmed that the system will have backwards compatibility with PS4 titles. Sony isn’t promising complete compatibility yet, but will strive for it. The cynic in me is taking this to mean games that could receive remasters will conveniently not be compatible, but they wouldn’t do that, right? Maybe. Recent PS4 games have come with ridiculous loading times, so it’s good that this system will come with a Solid-state Drive to ensure faster loading times even for open world games. They’ve given a lot of info within these small interviews.
There have been complaints about this format being too subdued for Sony to reveal details on their next console, but it’s fine. This is a good one for simply providing information. Does anyone really want to hear Cerny detailing tech specs within a conference-like setting? I find that hard to imagine. With this format, they can get all the on-paper info out the way to have a future conference, perhaps a PlayStation Meeting, mostly focused on games. I say “mostly” because there’s no way they’ll pass up providing a brief overview of the system’s power for a short portion of the presentation, to make sure the console war-ready buzzwords can start proliferating gaming social corners.
The incoming presentation better be a convincing one, though, because all signs suggest this thing will be expensive. The Solid-state Drive, ray tracing capabilities, and extra power won’t come cheap; given that the current PS4 Pro already retails for $399, just imagine how much the PS5 will be. They’ll need a presentation that focuses on games to sell the system – console-exclusive games, specifically, since most third-party games will be cross-generation titles for around the first two years. It will help that the system will come with backwards compatibility, to ensure that anyone still on a base or slim PS4 will want to upgrade to this instead of a Pro in the near future. (I’m talking about more than just me here.) But that probably won’t be enough.
The system will have to depend on those who love buying new tech for the first two years, the audience Sony is catering to with the interviews done with Wired. Sony plans on providing a full reveal of the PlayStation 5 early next year, just as they did for PS4 in 2013, with a launch in the holiday season of 2020. This info was also dumped now so Sony could get ahead of Microsoft and X019 next month, which will definitely include info on Project Scarlett.
The race for the next console generation is just heating up, for better or worse. Expect big news blowouts related to the upcoming consoles next year, though early adopters can expect the same to happen to their bank accounts.
About The Author
Geoff
News Editor | Geoff is some nerd who writes for a blog and thinks he's knowledgeable. He write a lot about video games, but is capable of writing about other subjects, too. Twitter
