After knowing what their competition’s console will look like for several months now, Sony Interactive Entertainment used an hour-long livestream early this morning to showcase the design of their PlayStation 5 next-generation video game console. Described by SIE as having a “two-tone design marking a radical departure from previous PlayStation consoles”, the appearance is likely to divide some but ultimately is super chic and modern and conversation-starter.
Taking an approach from a few generations back, Sony will be launching two variations of the console at launch. There will be a standard model which comes with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive, in addition to a (presumably) cheaper model without a disc drive. Unless there is a substantial discount between versions, it is hard to imagine the long-term loss of functionality would justify choosing the latter, unless an external Blu-ray disc drive is offered post-launch for those who wish to upgrade.
A closer look at the console’s design, and its relevant accessories such as the DualShock 5 controllers, controller chargers, media remote and more can be found below:
The bulk of the presentation was dedicated to providing first looks at new exclusive and multiplatform releases planned for release on the PlayStation 5 from launch until way off in 2022. I will cover many of these in more information over the coming hours. But for those who want a tl;dr version of the announcements:
- Grand Theft Auto V will be released on the PlayStation 5 in the second half of 2021, offering “enhanced and expanded” versions of both the single-player campaign and the online mode. According to SIE, this was arranged “thanks to the close partnership between SIE and Rockstar Games” and features “a range of technical improvements, visual upgrades and performance enhancements“.
- Through SIE Worldwide Studios and Sony’s second-party partners, the following games have been confirmed as in-development for the PlayStation 5.
- Astro’s Playroom (Japan Studio)
- Demon’s Souls (Bluepoint Games / Japan Studio)
- Destruction All Stars (Lucid Games / XDEV)
- Gran Turismo 7 (Polyphony Digital)
- Horizon Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales (Insomniac Games)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)
- Returnal (Housemarque / XDEV)
- Sackboy A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital / XDEV)
- An even larger assortment of third-party games have been announced for the PlayStation 5, either exclusively or as part of a multiplatform arrangement:
- Bugsnax (Young Horses)
- DEATHLOOP (Bethesda)
- Ghostwire: Tokyo (Bethesda)
- Godfall (Gearbox Publishing / Counterplay Games)
- Goodbye Volcano High (KO-OP)
- Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online (Rockstar Games)
- HITMAN 3 (IO Interactive)
- JETT : The Far Shore (Superbrothers)
- Kena: Bridge of the Spirits (Ember Lab)
- Little Devil Inside (Neostream Interactive)
- NBA 2K21 (2K, Visual Concepts)
- Oddworld Soulstorm (Oddworld Inhabitants™)
- Pragmata (Capcom)
- Project Athia (Square Enix/Luminous Productions)
- Resident Evil Village (Capcom)
- Solar Ash (Annapurna Interactive / Heart Machine)
- Stray (Annapurna / Blue Twelve Studio)
- Tribes of Midgard (Gearbox Publishing / Norsfell)
- The Pathless (Annapurna Interactive / Giant Squid)
Got an hour and a quarter free? You can watch the full recorded livestream below:
