PS5 the next-gen monster: All you need to know

Sony has revealed the price and launch details of its long-awaited next-generation console PS5 (or PlayStation 5) at the PlayStation 5’s showcase event, a week after Microsoft revealed the price and launch details of its Xbox Series X and Series S. Sony has also revealed its full specs sheet, and this beast is the biggest gaming console in modern history. Sony has also confirmed that PS5 will be 99% backward compatible with PS4 games. Now without wasting any time let’s take a look at its specs and other details.

Price and Launch details

Sony has officially confirmed that both versions of the PS5 will release on November 12 this year for the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea, while both consoles will be available worldwide on November 19. Sony has announced that the PlayStation 5 will cost $499.99, which puts it under direct competition with Microsoft’s flagship Xbox Series X priced at $499. While Sony’s PS5 Digital Edition will cost $399.99, which does not have a disc-drive the same as the Xbox Series S. But this version still has the same power and performance as the standard version.

As now fans have a clear idea of the cost comparisons both between Sony’s devices and Microsoft’s devices. Sony has announced that preorders for PlayStation 5 are starting tomorrow at select retailers, though the company declined to specify which ones.

PS5 design and UI

As Sony previously revealed on June 11, the PS5 is a very different-looking console if compared to other PlayStations, with its space-age black-and-white color scheme looking a little different from its past family members.
The console will come in two styles: PlayStation 5 standard edition, and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.

Both make use of USB-C charging for their controllers, and can make use of an HD camera accessory, alongside a new PS5 wireless headset and media remote. In addition, Sony has said that the PlayStation 5’s UI will be getting a 100% overhaul of the PS4 UI – which we’re expecting to see during the PlayStation 5 Showcase.

PS5 accessory details with a new $70 Dualsense controller

Alongside the reveal of the PlayStation 5’s $399 and $499 price tags, Sony also announced how much PS5’s accessories will cost. But firstly most important Sony’s new DualSense controller which has a familiar button layout and brings back the touchpad from the DualShock 4, will cost $69.99 for additional gamepads.

As Sony confirmed before, this new controller will have haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, which will provide realistic, tactile rumble to simulate the feel of, say, driving through mud or firing a bow and arrow. Its Share button has been replaced by a new Create button, which Sony claims will provide even more ways to capture and share your gameplay. DualSense also has a built-in microphone, which means you can chat with friends without needing to dig your gaming headset out. It will come with a Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1,560mAh.

Other PS5 accessories include the new charging station, which can recharge two DualSense controllers at once, which is set to cost $30. Pulse 3D wireless headset — which will support Sony’s big push for 3D audio will cost $100, while the PlayStation 5’s media remote will cost $30. In last, the HD Camera, which features dual 1080p lenses and allows players to broadcast themselves alongside streamed gameplay directly from PS5, and will cost $60. These various PS5 accessories are expected to launch alongside the console on November 12th.

Full PS5 specs details

As you can see, there’s no difference between the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition except one doesn’t have a disc drive. In terms of power and performance, PS5 has same CPU as Xbox Series family has but they are clocked differently, the same GPU but with fewer compute units at higher clock speed, and with the same amount of RAM.

But when it comes to the size comparison this console is a monster. PS5 standard edition is approximately 390mm (15.4 inches) tall, 260mm (10.24 inches) deep, and 104mm (4.09 inches) wide, making it the single biggest game console you’ve probably ever heard of. And if you compare its dimensions with the Xbox Series family, there’s barely a comparison. I just forgot to mention, which makes PS5 even bigger: Sony isn’t including the PS5’s “largest projection” or optional base in those measurements, according to its press release. Considering all this we can say that the new PS5 is the biggest game console in modern history with a weight of 4.5kg (about 10 pounds).

Backward compatibility of PS5

If you wondering that you can play some of your PS4 collection on your new PS5. Then fortunately it seems like there’s a good chance you will. Sony has confirmed that the new console is 99% backward compatible with the PS4 games. Sony hasn’t shared an exact list of which games will be backward compatible, so we do know that PS5 owners will be able to download and play a classic collection of PS4 games with just a PlayStation + subscription.

But even though we don’t know all the details about PS5’s backward compatibility, the situation already sounds a lot better than what was available during the PS4’s 2013 launch, where you were able to play exactly “0” PS3 games. One the related note Microsoft also promised that the upcoming Xbox Series X / S will be able to play 1000 of Xbox One, Xbox 360, and original Xbox games.

Following the price reveal, Sony published a blog post including a list of confirmed launch games and also some new titles such as:

• Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach
• Hogwarts Legacy
• New God of War title (Santa Monica Studio)

Additionally, PS5’s $499 price tag wouldn’t make it Sony’s most expensive console. That honor still goes to the PlayStation 3, which costs $499 for the 20GB model or $599 for 60GB.