The PlayStation 5 cometh

In the six or so years since the release of the PlayStation 4, it seems as though Sony has done everything it could to stop itself from its new console too early. First came the Slim, which made it smaller and packed it with better wireless connectivity, and then the Pro, which boosted its processing power and upgraded it to 4K graphics. Any packaging of these as the new PS5 would have earned Sony heaps of scorn.

Sony was wise to wait. We are now on the clock to the premiere of PlayStation 5 - the fall of 2020. So far, the Japanese gaming giant has revealed a few juicy tidbits about the PS5, such as the new controller, which will be a continued evolution from DualShock 4. One of the main novelties of the gamepad is the use of “haptic feedback” technology, through voice coil actuators, which together with an improved controller speaker is intended to give better in-game feedback. For example, crashing a car against the wall in a racing game will trigger a different sensation than kicking the ball in FIFA.

Further, the next-gen controller will receive new “adaptive” triggers that will also enrich the gaming experience by providing game-specific physical resistance for added challenges (think about the feeling of pulling back the string on a bow and arrow). USB-C connectivity and a higher rated battery are other improvements to be added to the new controller. Elsewhere on the hardware front, the console will have support for ray-tracing rendering thanks to a Ryzen CPU and a Navi GPU. An SSD drive and a new game installation system allowing for faster load of specific components of in-game features.

There will also be a completely redesigned console interface and 4K Blu-ray drive, and its hardware will allow for the eventual upgrade to 8K. Sony is building this thing to take us all into the 2020s and beyond.