PS5 Console Guide

The PS5 is the next generation of Playstation games consoles created by Sony. The PS5 will be superseding the PS4, one of the best selling consoles of the last generation. This guide will tell you all you need to know about the up and coming console. This article will be updated as and when there is new information about the PS5. Equally, click her if you are interested in the new Xbox Series X/S.

Release Date

The release date for the PS5 was the November 12th 2020 for the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. For the rest of the world, the release date was November 19th. In comparison, the Xbox Series X and S were both released globally on the 10th November 2020.

PS5 Restock

As a result of the global pandemic and exception demand for both the PS5 and Xbox, there is a global shortage of next gen consoles. There is arguably a higher demand for the PS5, and as a result, it is hard to come by. For the moment, whenever new stock comes it, it sells out within minutes. Here is a list of sites in the US and UK where you can expect to find both the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition when in stock. The next restock is rumoured to be mid-January.

How to get a PS5

Where to Buy the PS5 US

Amazon: Currently out of stock, check for updates.
Sony: Currently out of stock, check for updates.
Target: Currently out of stock, check for updates.
Walmart: Currently out of stock, check for updates.

Where to Buy the PS5 UK

Amazon: Stock previously available - check for updates.
Argos: Stock added sporadically - currently no stock.
Currys: Currently out of stock - check for updates.
John Lewis: Currently out of stock - check for updates.
Very: Currently out of stock - check for updates.
Smyths Toys: Currently out of stock - check for updates.

Price

The PS5's price has finally been revealed. As there are two consoles, there are two price points. The standard PS5 will cost $499 (£449), and the digital version will cost $399 (£349).

Comparatively the Xbox Series X will cost $499 (£449) and the Xbox Series S $299 (£249).

Hardware

Whilst the release date has not been fully divulged, Sony have released some of the key specs for the PS5:

• CPU: 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
• GPU: 10.28TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
• GPU Architecture: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine
• System Memory: 16GB GDDR6 / 256=bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 448GB/s
• Internal Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
• IO Throughput: 5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (compressed)
• Expandable Storage: NVMe SSD Slot
• External Storage: USB HDD Support
• Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive (up to 100GB / disc)
• Supports: 4K 120Hz TVs, 8K TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver.2.1)

Note: The non-digital PS5 has the same specs, it just does not have the optical drive.

Appearance

Sony has finally released the first images of the new PS5. There are two versions of the PS5, one with an 4K Blu-Ray drive and the other a purely Digital Edition. The latter version is considerably slimmer than the regular model. The PS5 is designed to both stand vertically or horizontally. In the images you can see large vents for heat dissipation.

Photos of the new DualSense controllers have also been released.

PS5 Launch Titles

The titles that are scheduled to be launched at the time of the PS5 release have not been released yet. Possible games that will be released on the PS5 are listed below, whether or not these will be available upon the PS5’s immediate release is yet to be determined.

• Assassins Creed Valhalla
• Battlefield 6.
• Beyond Good and Evil 2.
• Cyberpunk 2077.
• Deathloop.
• Dragon Age 4.
• Final Fantasy 7: Remake.
• Ghostwire: Tokyo.
• God of War 2: Ragnorok (release date - 2021)
• Hogwarts Legacy (coming 2021)

Backwards Compatibility

Sony have announced backwards compatibility for the PS5 with users possibly being able to play around 100 PS4 games from launch.

PS5 Unboxing

Here is an unboxing of the PS5 from Unboxing Therapy.

Other Next Generation Consoles

If you want to compare the PS5 with the up and coming Xbox Series X and Series S, you will can find more information here.
Photos: Sony / CD Projekt Red