A group of lucky content creators got their hands on the PS5 for a test-drive in Japan, resulting in praise for the console's silent cooling system. YouTube Gaming Week has been underway since September 24, with the PS5 preview marking the end of the event. For the segment, over ten Japanese YouTubers and other media were allowed access to Sony's upcoming console.
The PS5's interface didn't make an appearance, rather demos for Astro's Playroom, Balan Wonderworld, Devil May Cry V Special Edition, and Godfall served as the main content. Gameplay showcases aside, the hardware itself caught the attention of previewers. YouTubers and publications were able to handle the actual product, observing how it performed in the heat of gameplay. As a standout element, the trial group was impressed with the quietness of the PS5's cooling system.
Japanese publications that had access to the PS5 preview, particularly Dengeki and 4Gamer, were quick to praise the machine's noise levels. VGC contributor Robert Sephazon translated Dengeki's report on the matter, which read that the console was "exceptionally quiet," and even “the quietness of the fans was more impressive than the loading times.”
4Gamer contributor Yuki Hayashi echoed the same sentiments. Despite playing Godfall on the PS5 for a while, Hayashi noted that "the exhaust was gentle, and I could hardly hear what seemed to be the rotating noise of the fan." As it seems, the PS5 contains a well-engineered, silent solution to heat management. However, both publications made note of the console's larger proportions. "If anything, the main concern should be the size of the unit, so it’s necessary to ensure enough space both for the unit as well as ventilation," Hayashi wrote.
It will be interesting to compare Sony's cooling system to that of the Xbox Series X. Microsoft's upcoming console has quite a controversial appearance, but it isn't for aesthetics alone. Supposedly, the design of the Series X is meant to target efficient internal cooling — but will it stay silent when things get hot?
Source: VGC | Dengeki | 4Gamer