PS5 will feature backwards compatibility, SSD storage and ray tracing support
Sony has finally broken the silence and given us a tantalising glimpse of the PlayStation 5
NEWS UPDATE: Sony has confirmed the existence of the PS5. An exclusive article published by tech site Wired US reveals not only the expected release date of the PlayStation 5 but also details a few key features that we can expect to see when the console launches.
First and foremost: the PS5 will launch in 2020. In terms of specs, the console will run on an eight-core, 7nm AMD CPU that uses the same Zen 2 microarchitecture as the powerful Ryzen PC processors. Like its predecessor, the PS5 will use an AMD Radeon graphics processor – unlike the PS4, however, the new console will support ray-tracing technology, which marks a necessary step-up in console graphical capabilities.
Lead system architect Mark Cerny – the man whose information we're reporting here – has said that the AMD chipset will also feature new 3D audio tech.
This console will also include a feature severely lacking from Sony's previous consoles: backwards compatibility. In addition, the PS5 will be the first PlayStation console to offer solid-state storage, meaning super speedy loading times.
We're dancing a jig here at Expert Reviews: after all, this is the first real PS5 news we've had since we wrote this article. We'll be updating it as soon as we hear more, so don't go anywhere; in the meantime, read on for everything we know about the PS5.
Major leak reveals the processors that could power the PS5
The first significant leak to blot the copy book of Sony's next flagship console - the PS5 - has revealed a powerful set of processors. The leak, courtesy of chip leaker @TUM_APISAK, describes an AMD APU codenamed 'Gonzalo.' All we've actually seen is a long jumble of seemingly incomprehensible numbers and letters, but our leaker has done us a favour and explained what the code actually means.
The 'Gonzalo' CPU will have eight cores, and will be based on some version of AMD's Zen architecture. According to the leak, we can expect a clock speed of around 3.2GHz. In terms of the GPU, there's a strong chance it will be built on AMD's Navi architecture, and will potentially have a clock speed of around 1GHz.
These are all major improvements over the PS4 Pro, even though the original 4K machine also used a CPU with eight cores. Of course, take everything you see here with a healthy pinch of salt; these are unconfirmed leaks from a random - albeit historically accurate - corner of the internet, and should be treated as such.
Read on to find everything we know about the PlayStation 5 so far, including release date and possible hardware details.
PS5 release date: Everything you need to know about the PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5, or PS5 as it'll eventually be known, is the inevitable follow-up to the Playstation 4 and PS4 pro. Sony brought the PS4 into the world at the tail end of 2013, with a Japanese release following a few months later.
Four years later, Sony released another PlayStation console in the form of the PS4 Pro. But in 2018, it's been officially declared that the PS4 has reached the end of its lifespan – which of course means that there's a new console on the way. And one is very much needed, with Sony in dire need of a competitor to Microsoft's overpowered Xbox one X.
Sony will also need to re-think its online strategy in the wake of Microsoft's Project xCloud, a streaming service relying on 4G and 5G networks to bring Xbox and PC-quality gaming to smartphones. This cloud-based gaming service will begin trials in 2019 and should be up and running by the time of the Xbox two's release.
PS5 release date: When will it arrive?
In an interview with the Financial times, Sony President Kenichiro Yoshida conceded that it has become "necessary to have a next-generation hardware" to replace the PlayStation 4, which is now 5 years old. The console is not expected to deviate from the core PlayStation design, but it will have to be powerful enough to keep up with the next Microsoft Console; the Xbox one X remains the most powerful console on the market.
After John Kodera, CEO of SIE, declared that the PS4 had entered the "final phase" of its life cycle , we knew that the PlayStation 5 couldn't be all that far off. And thanks to Yoshida's admission, we have confirmation that it's underway.
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There have been debates aplenty from analysts over the launch date of the PS5, with estimations ranging from 2018 to the fiendishly futuristic-sounding 2020s. It appears now as though the actual launch date will sit somewhere in the middle of that vague timeline – somewhere around Christmas 2019.
This particular intel is based on a report by Japanese analytical firm Ace Securities. The company, renowned for its accurate market predictions, apparently knows something we don't about Sony's PS5 preparations – possibly due to an insider leak. Whatever its source, there's one firm that's hoping the news isn't true: Microsoft.
The next Xbox, codenamed Scarlett, will purportedly hit stories at some point in the year 2020, which means Sony could beat its biggest competitor by a full year. With that said, we could be seeing up to three new Xbox console drop at once, which would pose a serious threat to Sony's share of the console market.
In addition, a leak posted on Reddit last month suggested that the PS5 would launch in early 2020, with initial reveals coming in mid-2019 and at PSX later in the same year. The same leaker reported that Sony would not be appearing at E3 2019, which turned out to be true; that said, keep in mind that this is an unreliable source and try not to get too excited.
IDC analyst Lewis Ward has thrown his own well-researched opinions on the subject of next-gen consoles into the fray. According to Ward, E3 2020 is a strong contender for presenting us with our first look at the PS5 and Xbox two. Speaking toGaming bolt, Ward suggests that 2019 could see a "modest hardware refresh" and a "slate of triple-A exclusives;" if this is the case, Ward posits, "2020's E3 will be when Sony and Microsoft will be announcing their new systems."
An argument could be made for this being the case even without the modest refresh that Ward mentions. It's already been confirmed that Sony will not be attending E3 2019, for the first time in the expo's history. Even if Sony were to reveal their new console at PSX later this year - as suggested by aReddit user - both next-gen consoles would inevitably end up squaring off at E3 2020.
PS5 release date: Console specs
Given the far-off release date, rumours about the PS5’s specifications aren’t exactly what we'd call reliable. We can, however, make educated guesses. As the successor to the already excellent PS4 Pro, it's safe to assume that Sony will need to roll out some impressive hardware improvements in order to shift the new console.
This is particularly true in the wake of an article published by tried and trusted Microsoft insider siteThurrott detailing plans for three separate 'Xbox Two' consoles, all of which are in the process of being produced. The new Xbox consoles fall under the umbrella codename 'Scarlett', but now further codenames have been leaked which provide insight into the individual consoles.
'Anaconda', aka 'Scarlett Pro', is set to be the Microsoft's flagship console and will replace the Xbox one X as its biggest and most powerful gaming platform. 'Lockhart', or 'Scarlett Arcade', is a smaller, lighter and cheaper alternative, and looks to be the next-gen version of the Xbox ONE S. Both are expected to launch at the same time at some stage in 2020. There's even a new Xbox One S called 'Anthem' in the works that will serve as a disc-free format on which gamers will access the upcoming 'Project x cloud' streaming service.
The hardware race is very much on, then, and given that the PS4 thrashed the Xbox One quite resoundingly in this department at launch the PS5 will have plenty to live up to.
The original PS4 featured an AMD GCN GPU and Jaguar CPU but, in the five years since release, processors and GPU's have obviously come a long way, so there should be a giant performance boost with the PS5. Going by more current technology, we could see something along the lines of the upcoming AMD 7nm Navi chips which, according to Wccftech, will be designed for next-gen processors.
There'd also be a memory upgrade, with the PS4's 8GB GDDR5 stepping up to 12GB of RAM and possibly the next-gen GDDR6. Or maybe going with DDR4 and upping the RAM to 16GB. If Sony aims for native 4K resolution on the PS5 then there simply has to be an upgrade of that magnitude in the RAM department.
Should the 4K step up come, storage space will have to be increased. We already see games take upwards of 100GB of storage space, so 1TB could be a baseline minimum, with premium models coming with 4TB or perhaps even more. Sadly, this means that SSD hard drives are probably out of the question – the prices are simply still too high to feasibly include them.
Backwards compatibility
A patent found lurking on the japanese National Center for Industrial Property Information and training(INPIT) website seemingly confirms that the PS5 will offer backwards compatibility. The patent - which is written in Japanese, so bear with me - was first filed on 31 January 2019, by none other than Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. It describes a new system of "impersonating CPUID for backwards compatibility;" in other words, Sony is looking to provide support for titles released on the previous generation(s) of PlayStation console. Even when translated, the patent is written in a pretty indecipherable code, but I've given it my best effort. My understanding of it is this: Sony will construct a system that allows "legacy applications" (i.e. old or obsolete software) to run on a CPU that might otherwise prove too advanced by 'spoofing' a processor ID. Or, in plain English: The PS5 will trick my copy of Red Dead Redemption into believing that it's just been inserted into a PS3. I'm sure there's more to it, but I think we've covered the basics.
If you hadn't figured it out yet: this is HUGE. Backwards compatibility has ever been the thorn in Sony's side. There was once a model of PS3 that could play PS2 games, but it suffered with severe overheating issues and was discontinued pretty sharpish; as a result, Microsoft has been leading the race since the Xbox One began offering straightforward access to old games. In other words, it's high time Sony offered a bit of healthy competition.
PS5 release date: Features we'd like to see
Good as the PlayStation 4 may be, there's always room for improvement, and we have a few humble suggestions. Some upgrades – such as better graphics and a more powerful CPU – are obviously guaranteed, so there's no point listing them below. The ideas below are more wishful thinking than anything else, but some of them are definitely within the realms of possibility. Here's hoping!
1. 5Ghz WiFi support: Currently only the PS4 Pro has access to dual-band WiFi networks, but with luck, all versions of the PS5 will be able to operate with a 5Ghz connection. 2.4Ghz WiFi has a greater range but is not optimal for multiplayer gaming, because the connection is less concentrated and more open to interference from other routers and appliances.
2. Better battery life for Dual Shock controllers: The pads for the PS5, which will presumably be called Dual Shock 5 (following on from the PS4's Dual Shock 4) will, we hope, remain powered for much longers than its predecessor. There's nothing worse than settling into a long gaming session only to have to stand up immediately when your controller dies in order to plug in a wired charging cable which will, inevitably, be all tangled up in your console's other cables. Every time.
3. Full 4K support: The next-gen PlayStation will most likely offer 4K support as standard, so you won't need to wait until a 'Pro' version comes out before you can play the latest games in all their glory. Every Triple-A title that comes out these days supports 4K and HDR, so why shouldn't the console you'll be playing them on? Additionally, Sony should ensure that its next console reads 4K Blu-Ray discs – the PS4 Pro does not. Oh, and if you're looking to play 4K games, don't forget you'll also need a 4K TV...
4. Dolby Atmos: Sony chose not to include compatibility for Dolby Atmos home sound systems with the PS4, probably banking on the fact that only a small minority of gamers would actually benefit from such a feature. But with more and more people investing in home cinema systems, it would be brilliant to see (or hear, rather) Dolby Atmos support on the PlayStation 5.
5. More VR: The PSVR remains the best-value virtual reality headset on the market, and hopes are high that we'll see a quantum leap in the quality of VR games available on PS5. In November Sony published a 37-page patent application covering a virtual reality device which could be the new PS VR headset for the PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Microsoft has confirmed that the next Xbox will not have VR-capabilities; a strong library of VR games could be one of the PS5's biggest draws over the Xbox Two, which won't have any.
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