It seemed like only yesterday when the folks at Sony shocked the world when they unveiled the first-ever PlayStation to the masses. Way back when, the Sega Saturn had just launched early in a bid to try to outsell the rest of the competition, but all Sony had to do was back off of its price point by a reasonable amount compared to the Saturn’s staggering price. As a matter of fact, the only thing Sony had to mention was the price during that year’s convention to win the hearts of gamers.
Shifting back to the present day, much has changed in the gaming landscape, and the competition is fiercer than ever before. The PlayStation has grown from an up and comer to an industry leader, and the PlayStation 5 or PS5 is looming over the horizon, even with present circumstances making things difficult. Here is all you need to know about the PS5.
The potential PlayStation 5 release date
While the date for release might have been more concrete late last year, things are a bit murkier due to present circumstances. People are unable to work at their fullest capacity, making it challengfiguringgure out if the gaming industry will take a hard enough hit to put on the brakes for a while. Fortunately, it seems as though the news of the PS5’s potential release has not changed.
Sony is still sticking to Holiday 2020, which means it is likely you will see the PS5 on store shelves during Christmas time. That said, it can be challetellingo tell for sure, as dates are always subject to change. Considering everything that has been happening over the course of 2020, it seems likely that the release date might be postponed, but it will likely not change by much.
Doubling down on the PlayStation 5
There are rumors circulating that Sony is planning to release the PS5 Pro alongside the regular model for those who are looking for extra processing power. It will be a similar story to the PS4 Pro, where you could see the difference in load times and FPS between the regular PS4 model and the upgraded product. The interesting thing is that Sony just might release both models at the same time.
It would be a calculated risk if they are actually planning to push through with the release of both models, as the masses could very well simply choose the regular model. The claim was made by notable games journalist Zenji Nishikawa. While it does not necessarily guarantee that Sony will push through with both models, Nishikawa’s claims have often proven to be correct, espin regard togards to the PS4.
On the topic of backwards compatibility on the PlayStation 5
Perhaps one of the most interesting pieces regarding the PlayStation 5’s development has been the persistent rumor of full backwards compatibility. The idea that you can play your PS4, PS3, and even the PS2, and PS1 discs on your PlayStation 5 have stirred up the excitement of many retro gamers looking to enjoy their favorite games on the newest console.
However, the backwards compatibility of the PS5 has been greatly exaggerated. The only guarantee is that the PS5 can play PS4 games, but not all of it. It has been stated that it will eventually get to play over four thousand PS4 titles, which can be something of a disappointment for those who want to play much older discs. That said, not all is lost! Aside from PS4 compatibility, the newest console will still be able to play older games that the PS4 could play in the PlayStation Network. Considering that PSN had a healthy list of PS1, PS2, and PS3 games, the future’s looking bright.
The PlayStation 5’s primary focus
One of the questions that are often thrown around when it comes to the capabilities of the PS5 is not necessarily about its technical aspects, but its main focus when it comes to gaming. For example, will it focus on developing indie games to help the blossoming indie market get a foothold when it comes to AAA hardware? While it is rather hard to say what the main focus of a console might be, Sony has made it clear that the PlayStation 5 will cater to serious gaming more than anything else.
It means that there will be less of an emphasis on indie gaming, and more of a focus on AAA production. It also means that game development could last longer, but there can be no denying the overall quality of the games. It is an interesting focus, as Nintendo’s focus has always been in first-party gaming, but it does not necessarily neglect indie gaming.
How the PlayStation 5 looks to compete against the next generation
When you consider that the other console companies will be doing their best to push their new consoles to the very limits, the PS5 undoubtedly has plenty of competition. It is the reason why it shifted its focus to serious gaming, and likely why Sony is likely planning to release the Pro version alongside the base-model. The PS5 Pro is being developed to compete against the Xbox Series X’s performance model that is likely on the horizon. Sony knows that the console war is about to get even trickier, and it is committing itself to provide AAA quality gaming.
Without a doubt, the next generation of gaming is looking to be more exciting than ever. Sony is planning to move forward with the same business model as its previous iterations – only this time, it will be with an unprecedented level of commitment. They ain regard to with regards to the development of the PS5, as anything less will likely fall short against the Xbox Series X. With the Switch and Switch Lite, Nintendo continues to dominate the handheld market, but it is only a matter of time before they make their next big push. Sony needs to pull out all the stops to edge out the competition!
