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Can We Expect The Release Of The PS5 By The End Of 2019?
Want to get your hands on the PlayStation?
You probably haven’t noticed this in a while, but the PlayStation 4 has been around since 2013—meaning it’s been almost six years since Sony debuted the existing version of their flagship console. In fact, the CEO and President of Sony Interactive Entertainment, John Kodera, had also confirmed last May that its life cycle is coming to a close.
The good news is that yoru unit isn’t just going to drop dead, as the PS4 is still viable and will be for some time. The release of the PlayStation 5 would just mean that sales are expected to decrease.
With this revalation, gamers can’t help but wonder if their favorite console is bound for a much-needed revamp. Rumors about the new PlayStation (dubbed the PS5 for obvious reasons) have been swirling around for some time and, with gaming tech continually improving every year, the PS5 is expected to be impressive in every way.
Image via NotebookCheck
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Specs
There’s no point in releasing a new console if you aren’t going to improve its specs. For the PS5, you can expect superior hardware that will power through 4K games, virtual reality and other new gaming tech that may not have even debuted to the market yet.
One of the biggest rumors is a dedicated graphics chip rather than a combination of graphics and processing, which the possible rival of the PS5—the upcoming Xbox Two Scarlett—may also have. A dedicatd GPU would undoubtedly help in rendering 4K/60 frames-per-second graphics. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) President and CEO Lisa Su already confirmed that they’re working with Sony but did not delve into the specifics.
The new GPU, referred to as Navi, is believed to have advanced 7-nanometer chips. Sony’s principal programmers are also reportedly adapting AMD’s Ryzen technology for a performance boost on the PS5. Expect RAM to either remain at 8GB (which was also the capcity for the PS4 Pro) or even double this. Some game developers have also claimed that the PS5 could include some improvements in audio as well.
Rumored New Tech
Image via ComicBook.Com
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As mentioned, the PS5 will surely be integrated with new gaming tech. The second-generation PS VR is reportedly being updated to have its hardware built into the PS5 in order to eliminate the extra box between the headset and the console.
Sony is reportedly looking to improve their cloud services, as evidenced by the job openings for cloud gaming engineers who will help the company implement content delivery network systems. The PS Now streaming service is also in line for an update.
The most interesting news, however, might have come from German outlet Techtastic, which saw a patent filed by Sony for an “electronic game cartridge.” It indicated a possible change in cartridge format—one similar to the PS Vita.
Another possibility is a portably hybrid console. Kodera has said in an interview with Bloomberg that Sony “needs a system with a link between a console for home and handheld.” It sounds a little like the Nintendo Switch and if this is true, there’s a rumor that the DualShock controller will be updated to be “broken apart.”
Yet another piece of tech that the company is reportedly exploring is blockchain. With this, the release of the PS5 could mean the start of second-hand digital game sales and trades, moving the industry further away from physical media.
Games
Based on another patent filed, the PS4 games will be backwards compatible with the PS5. Game publisher CD Projekt Red already said that they are working on games for the next-gen consoles, with the assumption that the new Cyberpunk 2077 game might be one of the first titles for the PS5.
Other games that you can expect to be included in the lineup are Grand Theft Auto IV, The Elder Scrolls 6, Starfied, Beyond Good & Evil 2, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last Of Us 2, the new Call of Duty and Battlefield, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding (even though Kojima has gone on record to say it’s coming to the current generation of consoles).
Price
Thte PlayStation 4 (and the subsequent PlayStation 4 Pro) had a price point of US$399 when it was released in 2014, while the PS4 Slim launched in 2016 at US$299. The PS3 was more expensive, ranging between US$499 and US$599, but it’s unlikely that Sony will make the same expensive price tag mistake for the PS5. The likely cost should still be around US$399.
Image via DailyStar
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Release Date
For the most important part: Is the PS5 coming this year? According to Sony executives, the answer is no. Kodera confirmed with The Wall Street Journal that the PS5 would arrive sometime in 2021, as they “Will use the next three years to prepare the next step.” Eurogamer also reported that there’s no chance for an end-of-2019 release as the cost of production might make the PS5 too pricey for the market.
However, looking at the history of the previous generations’ launches—the PS1 in 1995, the PS2 in 2000, the PS3 in 2007 and the PS4 in 2013—there’s an obvious 5-6 year gap between releases, which would mean that the PS5 is slated for 2019 at the latest. Besides, the Xbox Scarlette will reportedly be launched in 2020 and if Sony plans to beat out Microsoft, they’ll likely release the PS5 earlier.
Furthermore, the year is extra special as the company will celebrate its 25th anniversary (a pretty good reason to make surprise announcements).
So while all these talks of the new PlayStation are getting you all excited, it might be best not to get your hopes too high just yet. You have plenty of time to shop for some new PS4 games and enjoy your console until the exciting moment that the new guy shows up.
