After years of speculation, months of teasing and teasing rumors, the PlayStation 5 launch is almost upon us. But, now it's only weeks away from launch, there's still a lot we don't know.
Of course, there are ssd tech out there. And AMD will be behind the processing and graphics units.
But what about design? What about starting the game? What about making the PS5 not just a game console but a hub for all your entertainment needs?
Throwing caution to the wind, a team of dedicated he's put together the most requested features for the PS5 - no less realistic and, in some cases, outlandish they can be.
- All the games we know are coming to PS5
- All we know about PS5's regulator
- Think about competition? We all know about the Xbox Series X
More ports, more variety of ports
Bill Thomas: Computational Editor
One of my biggest concerns with PS4 and PS4 Pro is the lack of ports on offer. Admittedly this is probably a niche thing to do, but I like being able to charge multiple controllers without having to buy an awkward iPod dock or USB tethering along with connecting an external hard drive. One of my favorite things about PC gaming is the ability to have something like 10 USB ports on one device.
I want more too of connections. When the console hits the streets it will be 2020 2021 almostSo an absolute must for USB external drives are more common than ever, and quickly that bandwidth will be an absolute must for anyone who wants to store their games remotely. Plus, the DisplayPort connector: I want to plug my PS5 into a fancy gaming monitor so he can take full advantage of it.
Controller with decent battery life and charging
Tom Bedford Staff Correspondent - Phones
I'm sick of how slowly the PS4 controller charges and how quickly it drains - sometimes it feels like I spend more time turning the controller "up" than I actually use it wirelessly.
The PS5 controller definitely needs a USB-C connection and more battery capacity if it doesn't want to be hopelessly behind the times, but it needs to be done in such a way as to enable wireless charging (preferably with the Charging Pad built into the console itself), so that inclusion in the technique part simply and easily.
Dolby Atmos technology and vision for home cinema excellence
Gerald Lynch: Editor-in-Chief - Home and Lifestyle
The PlayStation 4 Pro was a step in the right direction, bringing 4K graphics and HDR support to Sony's games and streaming line-up. But it's not quite the full cinematic picture we wish for just yet.
With the PS5 now known to be able to play 4K and Blu-ray discs like the Xbox One X before it, I wish I could see Sony doubling down on the premium movie technology that people now have available. Namely, broad HDR support and better surround sound options.
I'm mostly talking about Dolby technology. If you haven't watched a movie on a Dolby vision screen, using dynamic metadata to adjust contrast, black level and maximum brightness on the fly, you haven't lived. And the same goes for Dolby Atmos Audio, which uses discrete additional speakers or smart upfiring speakers to bounce sound from above, resulting in a more immersive and emotional viewing experience. They would have great tech and features that not only include movie screenings, but for a real next generation gaming experience, too.
Lots and lots of memory
James Peckham: Telephone Editor
As I write this, I have a maximum of 10 games downloaded for my PlayStation 4. It's single console day, so there's only 500GB of storage inside, and right now I have some games that are tipped for 100GB Mark is getting unbearable.
One version on the PS4 sports 1TB, and I hope so on the PlayStation 5. One rumored console will come with 2TB, but I hope even more than that when the console lands under my TV.
I want to be able to have all my games installed in due time without having to uninstall a behemoth such as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Hitman 2 to make enough room for the latest PS plus additions to my catalog. Of course, I could just buy an external hard drive... but I think I'm going to just wait until the end of the year and get a brand new console.
Native backward compatibility…everything
Samuel Roberts: Editor-in-Chief Entertainment
Sony's attitude towards backward compatibility has been rather poor compared to Microsoft. It's as if the manufacturer has forgotten the two best-selling consoles of all time, each with an extensive software library (the PS3 was pretty good too). I'm sure there are both technical and economical reasons why it's not easy to make backward compatibility with games from previous PlayStation consoles, and clearly for Microsoft, emulating all those games on the Xbox was a massive undertaking.
But what a way to celebrate your legacy as a platform. It's not enough to be able to stream (and download, in some cases) these PS games now, if you ask me. Sony should make an effort to get more different software libraries on the PS5 than on the PS4. It just makes the all-in-one subscription option much more compelling, as the Xbox Game Pass illustrates.
If I could put 7/10 discs on PS2 classics like The Matrix: Neo's Way and True Crime: La Streets into my PS5 in 4K, I'd be happy. But it doesn't make sense that I can play PSone games on my PS2 and PS3 but not my PS4.
Now we need more PlayStation downloads
Henry St Leger: Main Technical Writer
Despite the dripping specs (and it's a pathetic logo) for the PS5, we still haven't heard anything about how Sony's game streaming service, PS Now, will develop on the next-gen console. More power should certainly help stream these games more successfully, but the real triumph would be to be able to download its entire 800-game streaming library as well.
PS Now the platform already does this for some titles, but there are not so many of them - given offline play, it neatly bypasses issues of delays or dropouts during online broadcasting. (Bloodborne is a punishment like that!)
We know streaming is going to be big, with Google stadiums growing in offering and xCloud project on PS now too. But as long as internet speeds change as often as between families, cities, and countries, Sony must take care not to leave a generation of gamers behind.
Strong list of exclusives
Victoria Good: Game Writer
A big part of why the PlayStation 4 has been so successful comes down to the high quality of the PlayStation exclusives on offer. Loves Spider-Man, God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn can be considered some of the best games of this console generation - and they were only available on PS4. This was a key factor in the console that I, and many others, chose when it came to PS4 vs. Xbox One and is something I really hope Sony continues to build on.
There's a lot we may not know about what PS5 exclusives are in the pipeline, although we do expect upcoming games like The Last of Us 2 and Ghost of Tsushima to be cross-gen. But I hope we see on the horizon zero Dawn 2 revealed, but ultimately God continued the war and at least one fantastic new IP trouble. I hope we don't have to wait too long and we see at least one of these games as PS5 launch title.
A remote play PlayStation that actually works... and GTA 6
John Macken, Associate Editor-in-Chief
The idea of being able to stream and play PlayStation on another device in your home is fantastic. Whether it's streaming to his tablet, or the TV in another room, I've been into remote playback...until I tried it.
This is bad. How, very, very bad. Slow, lagging, poor quality. You cannot comfortably play any game that requires fast reactions, especially if you are playing online against others.
PS5 has a chance to fix this. Reduce lag and latency, improve streaming efficiency and deliver 4K resolution so you can get the same experience remotely as you are sitting on the couch in the front console.
One more thing...
Yes, it's a big stretch. But if anything is going to guarantee that I'm buying a PS5 on launch day, that would be it. If Rockstar and Sony can team up to align the launch of PS5 with the launch of GTA 6 I will be sold.
It is also a kind of great title A title that will excite people and drive sales. If GTA 6 offers a vastly improved experience for the PS4 build (as GTA 5 did between PS3 and PS4), then there will be even more reason for consumers to bag the next generation machine themselves. Plus, I'll be delighted - and this is very important here.
- We all know about the PlayStation 5 so far