As Microsoft touts gameplay and more reveals in the coming month, Sony has stayed relatively silent in regards to the PlayStation 5. A look at specs with Mark Cerny via an online conference did little to attract excitement, but the potential still remains as the debut for Sony's next-gen system draws ever-closer. What new features will the PS5 invite to console gaming?
DualSense Controller
Mutating the bulkiness of the Xbox One controller with the sleek and refined look of the PS4's, the DualSense was met with mixed reviews. In a PlayStation blog, Senior Vice President of Platform Planning and Management, Hideaki Nishino, unveiled the DualSense controller by highlighting the adaptive L2 and R2 triggers, in addition to a newfound look at the sense of touch in gaming
Hence, a major feature of the controller is its employment of haptic feedback, referring to the variance of the PS5's vibration motors. One of the most critical components of the DualSense is its built-in microphone, which is intended for PS5 players without headsets to still chat with friends. The PS4's "Share" button evolves into "Create" on the DualSense, which will have a number of functions thus far unknown.
Solid State Drive
The beating heart of the PlayStation 5 is its proprietary SSD, lending Sony's next-gen platform an exponential (5.5GB/sec) boost in internal data transference. Thus, the PS5 will have far faster loading screens, shorter patch updates, ultra-high-speed streaming, and much more. Sony's custom PCle 4.0 SSD will not only mitigate time spent waiting on games to load and update, but it will also expand the development of future games with a console's storage capacity no longer an overriding factor.
Backwards Compatibility
With Microsoft's next-gen console boasting the ability to play all games from previous generations, Sony is already at an extreme disadvantage. In his live PS5 deep dive, Mark Cerny explained that most PS4 games will be available on Sony's next-gen hardware, specifying the top 100 most-played PS4 games were tested. As to prior PlayStation nostalgia trips, the PS5 is sadly a no-go, but many of these greatest hits can be revisited via the PSN Store and PS Now.
3D Audio
Replicating surround sound, 3D audio will give in-game sequences an even more life-like presentation. It will be implemented best in the forthcoming system's updated VR, personifying 3D spaces unlike ever before through the power of the Tempest Engine. The PS5's 3D audio will literally take into account data accrued from over 100 individuals, focusing on their most optimal audio feedback settings, then drastically narrowing that down to 5 basic profiles upon launch.
4K Blu-ray
The new console will also come equipped with a Blue-ray drive allowing for the viewing pleasure of 4K movies, in addition to "100GB optical disks" for physical PS5 games. The console itself can support 8K video and raytracing, adding even more layers of realism to already exceptionally detailed titles.
Given that Sony hasn't even displayed the console yet, which is slated for a July reveal, the PlayStation 5 is due for some improved teasing. Thus far, some scattered specs and a controller give PlayStation fans little to expect from Sony's next-gen offering.