Less and less is missing for the expected launch of the PlayStation 5. Sony confirmed that the console will hit the markets in mid-November and significant changes are expected in the technical section, such as the inclusion of a next-generation AMD processor and a video card from the same company mentioned.
In turn, the Japanese company recently indicated that the PS5 will cost $ 399 in its digital version, while the one that includes a disc reader will be $ 499. Both will be sold in the United States starting November 12.
In that sense, we have decided to collect all the confirmed data that is had on the PlayStation 5 to date.
Two PS5 models
Last June, the Japanese company revealed that they will launch two models: a digital PS5 and another with a disc reader. The only difference between them, beyond the possible price, is that one will be able to play physical discs and the other will not.
PS5 release date
The PS5 will be available from November 12 in the following countries: United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. In the rest of the world, it will be ready from November 19.
PS5 price
The PS5 in its version with disc reader will cost $ 499 and the digital PS5 will be $ 399.
Latest generation technical section
The CPU – the processor that handles all the activities – of the PlayStation 5 will be a third-generation AMD Ryzen with eight cores of the 7nm Zen 2 architecture. While the GPU – graphics processing unit – will be part of the Radeon Navi family.
According to Mark Cerny, the architect of the PS5, the machine will have support for a maximum resolution of 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels). Although this does not mean that video games will run at this size. Everything will depend, finally, on the developers.
Ray Tracing on the PS5
Additionally, ray tracing will be present on the PS5. This technology is based on the simulation of the sun’s rays in real-time, which significantly increases the quality and realism of the images.
Currently, this type of algorithm has begun to be applied in the field of video games, although it is common in the film sector.
New DualSense remote
One of the most striking and expected novelties by the public is the inclusion of the DualSense control. It is already known that the triggers (L2 and R2 buttons) will have haptic technology, which will allow greater immersion in the game, and will have better resistance.
And how does this affect the game? This is how Sony explains it on their blog: “You can even feel a very diverse variety of textures when driving through grassy fields or if the vehicle is running through mud.”
Another detail about the DualSense is that it will have a USB-C type connector, which will facilitate charging it with the user’s cell phone cable. As well as improved vibration motors and a louder speaker.
It should be noted that Sony stated that the Dualshock 4 will not be compatible with the exclusive video games of the PS5, but they can be used in the PS4 titles that are reproduced on the new console.
3D Audio
The PlayStation 5 will carry a new custom 3D audio chip that, according to Sony, will “redefine the sound that can be made in a video game.”
For Cerny, the evolution of audio on PS3 and PS4 was not adequate. “As a gamer, I’ve been a bit frustrated that the audio doesn’t change that much between PS3 and PS4. With the new console, the dream is to show how the sound changes drastically when a lot of hardware power is applied to it ”.
Solid State Drive (SSD)
In April 2019, Sony announced information about the storage hardware that the PS5 will have, which will be a solid-state drive (SSD), a version of memory that does not use magnetic disks in its operation; instead it applies non-volatile memory. The SSD ensures a higher data transmission speed.
Thanks to this, the time of the loading screens will be much less. As an example, Cerny used the video game Spider-man: Fast travel in Insomniac Games’ game takes 15 seconds on PS4 Pro, while on PS5 it takes 0.8 seconds.
Although, it was added that the installation of video games will be mandatory. “Instead of treating games as a large block of data, we are allowing more precise access to data,” said the American.
In this way, Sony ensures that the console will be “the fastest in the world.”
Exclusive PS5 video games
As usual, Sony will continue to work on games that can only be enjoyed on the PS5, the popular exclusives.
Among some of them, we have Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon Forbidden West (the sequel to the successful Horizon Zero Dawn), Gran Turismo 7, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Demon’s Souls, Returnal, among others.
Backward compatibility with PS4 games
The titles of the PS4 that we have bought can be used in the new PlayStation 5. This is known as backward compatibility and it will be given through the physical disc reader that the PS5 will keep or digitally, in the event that we have them in the library.
Also, as we anticipated, the disc reader will not be removed and will be present on the PS5. This – in addition to allowing us to play – will allow us to play Blu-rays in 4K (base format of the games of the next console).
In addition to this, there will be video games that once you buy them on PS4, you can receive them for free for the PS5 if you buy the console. We have the cases of FIFA 21, Cyberpunk 2077, or The Witcher III: Wild Hunt.
PlayStation VR compatible with PS5
For all owners of PlayStation VR virtual reality headsets, there is good news: the PlayStation 5 will have support for the mentioned device. However, there is a possibility that in the future they will launch new glasses for the PS5.
“I’m not going to go into detail about our virtual reality strategy,” says Cerny, “beyond saying that virtual reality is very important to us and that current PSVR headsets are compatible with the new console.”
