PS5 (PlayStation 5) - Release Date, Price, Games, Specifications & More

PS5 (PlayStation 5) – Release Date, Price, Games, Specifications & More

Sony’s next-gen console is here

The PS5 is a true generational leap, offering incredibly fast load times and an innovative new controller that can change the way games feel.

The PS5 is here (if you can buy one) and it really feels like a generational leap for console games. With its powerful graphics technology and wildly innovative DualSense controller, Sony’s new console allows for a level of immersion that was simply not possible on previous consoles. The system’s lightning-fast SSD is a literal game-changer, loading games in mere seconds – and in some cases, providing new ways to interact with them.

And may prove to be a pain for those with limited space. The new PS5 interface is beautiful and fast, but it feels a little barebones at the moment. And with many of the PS5’s key games available on PS4, the verdict is still out on whether or not you need to upgrade right away.

Still, thanks to its robust backward compatibility, streamlined interface, superb gaming performance, and incredible load times, the PS5 already feels like the future of console gaming. And it’s hard to go back.

PS5 Price and release date

The PS5 launched on November 12 in the U.S. and came to the U.K. and most other parts of the world on November 19. The standard PS5, which includes a 4K-Blu-ray drive, costs $499, while the PS5 Digital Edition goes for a cheaper $399 if you don’t mind going discless.

It’s worth noting that the PS5 has been extremely difficult to buy since pre-orders were first released earlier this year. The retail stock has been in and out quickly, so be sure to bookmark our where to buy PS5 guide for the latest updates.

PS5 (PlayStation 5) Specifications:

Price: $499 (standard), $399 (Digital Edition)
CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
GPU: 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU
RAM: 16GB GDDR6
Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
Expansion: NVMe M.2 SSD slot
Disc drive: 4K Blu-ray player
Size: 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1 inches
Weight: 9.9 pounds

11 BEST PS5 GAMES LIST

Grand Theft Auto V
Demon’s Souls
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Astro’s Playroom
Dirt 5
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Godfall
The Pathless
Sackboy: A Big Adventure

How good is PS5’s 3D Tempest Audio?

ADJUST YOUR 3D AUDIO PROFILE

If you head into the PS5 settings, you can adjust the 3D audio to suit your preference. There are five levels of height to choose from, so select the option that sounds closest to your ear level. Remember that 3D audio works on any headset, either wirelessly or when plugged into the DualSense controller.

The PS5’s 3D Tempest Audio is Sony’s take on Dolby Atmos, or spatial audio in general. It works on any headset, with support for TV speakers coming sometime after the PS5’s launch.

We’ve tested various spatial audio solutions in the past, ranging from Windows Sonic to Dolby Atmos, and we’ve found that PS5’s 3D Audio is a comparable experience overall, though we’d like to test it with more games in the future.

We enjoyed hearing ships fly past and over our head in Astro’s Playroom, and appreciated being able to pick out thugs that were closing in on us in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. It’s not as detailed or as realistic as we first hoped, though, at least not at this stage, and it will be up to developers to get the most out of the technology as it matures.

At launch, Sony says, you can expect to experience Tempest Audio in all four of its first-party titles (Astro’s Playroom, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls and Sackboy: A Big Adventure), with additional titles coming after launch.

PS5 DESIGN

Huge for a modern gaming console
Space-age aesthetic is polarizing
But the size means more space for air ventilation and a bigger fan

If gaming consoles had weight classes, the PS5 would be in the heavyweight division. We measured it to be around 39 x 10.4 x 26cm (H x W x D) – though the curved surfaces make getting an exact measurement difficult – and it weighs in at 4.5kg, giving it a noticeable heft when you pick it up.

With those measurements in mind, it’s easy to see how the PlayStation 5 is the largest console Sony has ever made, and it teeters on the brink of being simply too big for a device that’s supposed to sit under your TV.

Many will have to rethink their current setup or upgrade their entertainment centers entirely to accommodate Sony’s new machine, and that’s a problem that no one should have to worry about when picking up a new console.

As for the colors and shape of the console, well, they can be kind of polarizing, too. Some of us on the team absolutely love the PS5 design, while some of us hate it. There’s no denying, however, that its gargantuan size and two-tone color scheme demands attention in any home.

One element that is a lovely touch and that everyone at TechRadar likes is the subtle lighting effect of the system, which creates a soothing tone when the console is in operation or in sleep mode.

It adds to the PS5’s space-age look and feel, and represents a nice touch of continuity from the PS4. Much like the PS4, when the console is in rest mode the light turns orange, and when the PS5 is turned on it changes from blue to white.

However, we’re a bit baffled by Sony’s choice to put glossy plastic on the center column of the console, especially since that’s where the front USB ports are.

We can’t say for sure, but there is a chance that the plastic will scratch over time unless you are very careful when connecting the devices, and if that’s the case, it seems like a huge oversight on Sony’s part. It is also a great magnet for dust and fingerprints.

Due to its curves and tall stature, it’s not just a case of placing the console down and playing once you pull it out the box either – you’ll need to wrap your head around the PS5’s attachable stand first.

The console can’t be placed horizontally without it, and you risk impeding airflow if you don’t use it when the PS5 is standing vertically. It’s an extra step that, while necessary, will hopefully be omitted when the console’s inevitable ‘slim’ version arrives in a couple of years.

The stand, while functional, feels slightly cheap in the hand. It has a small compartment to hold one lone screw (don’t lose this, as you’ll need it when placing the console vertically) and at first glance, it doesn’t look like the setup will actually work when laying the console flat.

To its credit, though, it does the job in a no-thrills fashion – however, we found the stand slipped off the small lip that it clamps onto multiple times when we shifted our unit into position.

In terms of ports, the front of the PS5 has a USB-A and USB-C port, while the back sports two USB-A ports, a HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet port and a power port. There are no proprietary ports on the console, which is always a bonus if you need to replace the odd cable.

SHOULD YOU BUY THE PS5?

Buy it if…

You plan on buying a next-generation game console in the next six months
The PS5 is a seriously great next-gen gaming console – and one we’ll be recommending to our friends and families for the next six months, at least. The new controller is revolutionary, and the whole experience feels fresh, fast and satisfying to use.

You want a taste of next-gen without losing your PS4 games
One of the best things about the PlayStation 5 is that it acts as a bridge between generations. Your entire library of digital PS4 games is there from the moment you log into your PSN account, and any great games you missed will likely be part of the PlayStation Plus Collection.

You’re tired of loading screens and ready for higher frame rates
The marquee features of the PS5 are its SSD, which significantly reduces the time it takes for games to start up, and its cutting-edge GPU, which enables ray-traced graphics and resolutions up to 4K at 120fps – and, possibly, all the way up to 8K/60fps in the future.

Don’t buy if…

You’re looking for a great Dolby Atmos and Vision Blu-ray player
If you’re a home media enthusiast who has a collection of 4K Dolby Vision Blu-rays at home and a Dolby Atmos speaker system, you probably won’t love the PS5. Yes, it will be able to play 4K Blu-Ray discs, but because it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision’s cutting-edge formats, we won’t be recommending it to the audiovisual community.

You expect a full launch library on release day
The PS5’s launch catalog isn’t very big – we only counted about a dozen PS5 games on the PlayStation Store that will be available on or around launch day. That doesn’t mean things won’t improve; they most certainly will, but right off the bat, don’t expect to be overwhelmed with options.

Your entertainment center is cramped already
It might not be an issue for some, but it’s worth calling attention to how big the PS5 is one last time. If you’re short on space, and you physically don’t have room for a gargantuan console on your entertainment center or desk, then you might want to hold off for the smaller version of the PS5 that will inevitably be released in a few years time.

One-Minute Review

We expected great things from the PS5, and Sony’s next-gen console certainly delivers.

Sony has reinvented the key parts of the experience, from a simpler setup and thoughtful new user interface to a revolutionary controller and additional bonuses for PS Plus members. The result is a console that we can’t help but be impressed with, and it helps that it has an attractive lineup of games to play on day one.

It’s finally out – you can buy PS5 in stores across the US, and also buy PS5 UK consoles too. We’re also rounding up all the future PS5 deals and bundles you can expect so you don’t miss a great deal.

Sure, there are problems with the number of first-party games there are at launch (only four if you include pack-in game Astro’s Playroom) – and it would have been nice to see further support for previous generations of PlayStation titles, not just PS4 games – but the PlayStation 5 feels like a solid investment nevertheless, and we’re confident that the PS5 experience will improve with age.

You might be tempted to run out and buy a 4K/120Hz TV with HDMI 2.1 to take full advantage of the console’s peak capabilities, but even without one you’ll enjoy unbelievably fast load times and a gorgeous new UI.

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The PS5 caters to both primed and ready next-gen gamers and tepid PS4 owners looking to dip their toes into the future of gaming – and for the latter it’s a console that so seamlessly bridges the gap between the last generation and the next that you probably won’t need to boot up your PS4 ever again.

From big upgrades like the super-fast NVMe SSD and powerful GPU that enable higher frame rates and ray tracing, to subtle touches like the built-in microphone on the controller that can serve as a quick stand-in for a headset, the PS5 feels like it was built for ease of use as well as pure power.

We’ve yet to get our hands on the PS5 Digital Edition, which we may feel differently about, but if you’re still on the fence about buying the PS5, we can wholeheartedly recommend the console as a welcome upgrade over the PS4, and an exciting portal to next-gen gameplay.

PS5 (PlayStation 5) – Release Date, Price, Games, Specifications & More