Summary
As Sony entered the current console cycle, the expectations that were placed on the company were absurdly high. The PlayStation 4 was a smashing success, and players were eagerly hoping that the firm will provide new possibilities with its next-generation system that had not been conceived of before.
Not only did the PlayStation 5 live up to their promises, but it also made them seem to be lacking in innovation. The PlayStation 5 (PS5) established a new standard for the next generation of gaming by introducing revolutionary and fascinating modifications to the DualShock controller, which resulted in lightning-fast load rates.
Sony PlayStation 5 review
In spite of the fact that Digital Trends conducted its original evaluation of the PlayStation 5 over a period of a little under two weeks, we have continued to analyze the system on many occasions during its lifecycle owing to the fact that it is always developing. In November 2023, Sony introduced a new PS5 model that was far more compact than the one that we had previously analyzed. This new PS5 model completely replaced the huge 2020 model that we had previously evaluated. This latest version addressed some of the most significant issues that we had with Sony’s system, including its inadequate storage capacity and its odd dimensions. Now, three years later, with a new system in tow and a library of loads of high-profile exclusives, we are still as enthusiastic about the PlayStation 5 as we were toward it when it was first released.
A review of the Sony PlayStation 5 review
The first version of this review of the PlayStation 5 was published by Chris Morris on November 6, 2020. Since then, Giovanni Colantonio has updated it in order to guarantee that it is compatible with the most recent hardware and game lineup modifications for the system. As a result of the thinner and revised PS5 model that Sony released on November 12, 2023, it underwent a complete revamp. Giovanni Colantonio provided the most current update, which was provided on May 5, 2024. A greater amount of information on recently released video games, as well as more accessories and titles that were canceled, was included in this update.
For the hardware: What’s more, it’s lightning-quick
Since the very beginning, Sony has emphasised that the PlayStation 5 is all about speed. On the other hand, it is difficult to communicate how much of a difference speed can make unless you have experienced it for yourself.
Players are able to instantly teleport throughout New York City in the blink of an eye, which is the most impressive technological magic trick I’ve ever seen in a video game. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has this ability. This is taken to an even more amazing level by other unique games, such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which allows players to enter and exit multiple realities without waiting for a single second for the images to load. It is because of moments like those that Sony has been able to fulfill its aspirational promises throughout the PS5’s lifespan, therefore establishing it as the most amazing platform currently available on the market.
Additionally, this optimization may be seen in other games made by Sony, such as Horizon: Forbidden West. Both the immersion component of games and the flow of the tale in narrative titles are favorably impacted by it. It is a significant contributor to the overall experience. Furthermore, the ability to enter games in a short amount of time is equally gratifying.
The fact that this apparent difference in performance is caused by software rather than hardware is an intriguing fact to take into consideration. Although the Xbox Series X from Microsoft is the more powerful console in terms of technical specifications, the PlayStation 5 has superior performance when it comes to storage. The Xbox, on the other hand, does not have a robust exclusive library, and only a small number of games from the previous generation make substantial use of the capabilities of the current platform. Even now, after two years, the PlayStation 5 has a significant edge thanks to this.
The design: it is still somewhat large, but it is superior
The immense power that you possess comes with a catch. On the other hand, the original PlayStation 5 model was a massive piece of hardware that had certain design problems that made it difficult to put it down in a horizontal position. The model that will be released in 2023 is a “slim” refresh that addresses some of the issues that have been raised. Although I wouldn’t call the new design compact, it is undeniably more compact than its predecessor. Even when I place it next to other consoles, it continues to be head and shoulders above them all. Despite this, the Digital Edition is much more compact, which is a positive development.
However, there is a catch: the problematic stand concerns that were present in the earlier system have also been rectified here. It is no longer included in the box with a vertical stand, but the system does come with two simple plastic pegs that are designed to support the console while it is in the horizontal position. It seems like a step backwards since players now need to purchase a ring stand separately, which costs thirty dollars.
The Xbox Series X from Microsoft is a smaller, more compact console that is not nearly as intimidating as its predecessor, but the fact that it is shaped like a box may still cause problems for the typical audiovisual cabinet. On the other hand, gamers who have a limited amount of room for a console may want to think about the Xbox Series S instead. This system is far smaller than the PlayStation 5 or Series X, and it has a design that is more similar to a tablet.
It is true that the new PlayStation 5 model has a detachable hard drive, which is an example of technological progress. Those who purchase a Digital Edition will not be permanently unable to use their disc drives since they have the option to connect Sony’s Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, which costs an extra $80 more than the Digital Edition. This is a fantastic concept that would make the PlayStation 5 more modular, much like a personal computer; however, the arithmetic doesn’t quite line up. The Digital Edition now costs $450, which is actually $50 more than the previous edition, despite the fact that it is smaller in size. It is possible that you would wind up paying more money if you decided to add a drive to the digital version of the system at a later time. This is because the disc-drive version of the system still costs $500. It is because of this that the Digital Edition seems to be unnecessary, since it will not save you any money even if you decide not to upgrade to the physical version.
In the event that you are interested in purchasing one, your best bet is to get the model that costs $500 and position it in a horizontal position. There will be no need for any extra purchases to be made.
Ample storage space is available!
The lack of storage capacity on the PlayStation 5 was the system’s first Achilles’ heel. There were only 667 gigabytes of the 825 gigabyte hard drive that were accessible for use by players. This was because of the proprietary solid-state drive and the size of the operating system. In spite of the fact that it was a little sum, you no longer need to be concerned about it because of the new model. It now has the same amount of internal storage as the PlayStation 4 Pro, which is 1 terabyte. The amount of usable space is around 842 gigabytes, which is actually forty gigabytes more than the Xbox Series X (but somewhat less than the PS4 Pro). Because of this, the new PS5 models have the largest storage space of any console in the current generation.
Purchasing and installing an NVMe PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive (SSD) allows owners to increase that amount. A solid-state drive (SSD) slot is available on the console specifically for this reason, and we have compiled a list of some of the top SSD solutions that are currently available. In order to take advantage of the PS5’s load rates, these are the only hard drives that are compatible with the console. A standard NVMe PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive (SSD) costs around $200, which is not a cheap price. On the bright side, it is a little less expensive than the storage cards that are utilized by the Xbox Series X and S consoles from Microsoft, which cost $220 each.
You may also connect an external hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD), but any games that are saved on the external drive will not benefit from the system’s increased performance. Additionally, any PlayStation 5 games that are placed on the external drive will not be playable until you move them to the internal drive. This means that external drives are only helpful for older games.
That which controls: It’s a victory for us.
This new DualSense controller is the secondary weapon of the PlayStation 5, if load times are the major weapon of the PlayStation 5. Plus, it is quite stunning.
It is somewhat bigger than the DualShock 4, and it improves haptic feedback by combining a precise sense of touch with the experience of playing video games. Force feedback has never made this kind of contribution before. It is possible that this may become a gimmick (and, to be honest, it may become such in the years to come), but for the time being, it will provide an additional layer to games, which will increase player immersion.
Do you find it difficult to draw a bow or pull open a door that is heavy? This stress may be communicated by the hand triggers. Are you experiencing a difficult landing when you drive over a hill or a struggle through an area that is muddy? You will be aware of it. Along the same lines as the absence of load screens, this new haptic feedback is a subtle feature that you will quickly come to take for granted. You won’t be able to appreciate how fast you’ve become used to it until it is no longer there.
Thus far, the unique features have presented a mixed bag of results. When it comes to adaptive triggers, there are certain games that are a bit too eager to play, which makes them physically challenging to play. The fact that there are only a few games that make full use of the controller, however, demonstrates how unique it is. In the game Returnal, for example, haptic feedback is used quite well, allowing the player to experience every single drop of rain or replicate the movement of a parasite in their hands. Moments like those distinguish the PlayStation 5’s experiences from anything else currently available on the market.
While a newly integrated microphone is less helpful in the majority of games, it does make it possible to have quick conversations with friends without the need for a headset.
Battery life is the price that must be paid for this extra feature. The DualSense is equipped with a rechargeable battery, in contrast to the Series X, which is powered by AA batteries; nonetheless, we discovered that the charge would be depleted quite rapidly. When charging the PS5 using its USB port, a complete charge was seldom achieved, regardless of whether the device was in sleep mode or kept on at full power. Sony’s separate charging station was able to completely charge the controller since it was provided by the company.
Backward compatibility will allow PlayStation 4 controllers to be used with the PlayStation 5, but only with games that were originally designed for the PlayStation 4. Cross-compatibility between controllers is a feature that Microsoft provides, which enables older Xbox One controllers to be used with the new Xbox.
The most important things are the games and the software
Microsoft found itself in the precarious situation of needing to launch a new system without a first-party launch game, while Sony was originally in a position that the company could look back on with envy. When it was first released, Spider-Man: Miles Morales provided it with an advantage, but a lot has happened since the year 2020.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a very entertaining game that demonstrates at least some of the capabilities of the PlayStation 5. All three of these first-party games—God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and Returnal—are very essential to have. Additionally, first-party titles such as Stellar Blade take the potential of the platform even further. Astro’s Playground, which is included in the package, is a platformer that is a hidden treasure. It is packed with Easter eggs that allude to a simplified version of Super Mario Bros., while at the same time serving as a tour of the capabilities that are available on the PlayStation 5 controller.
The PlayStation 5 has also been able to amass a sizeable collection of successful titles thanks to the contributions of third-party developers. Square Enix has provided the system with console exclusives in the form of Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, thanks to the strong support it has received. Before it was released on Xbox, Baldur’s Gate 3 was compatible with the PlayStation 5, which was a significant occasion for the console as well. All of these games, along with other amazing games that are specific to the current generation, such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Dead Space, and Resident Evil 4, will provide you with a large selection of games to choose from if you decide to pull the trigger.
In addition to that, Sony has just recently relaunched its PlayStation Plus subscription, which offers access to more than 700 titles for users. In this category are some classic games that date back to the PlayStation 1 era. In spite of the fact that it is not as interesting as Game Pass, it is a service that PlayStation fans really need since it provides them with something to do in between all of the expensive games. It is only because Sony has a better ecosystem set up today than it had when it first launched the PlayStation 5 that it has become a more valuable product.
Sony PlayStation 5 review: For the long haul
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is still the machine to beat in this generation of consoles, but, while prior cycles had a clear route ahead, this one is far more cloudy. The first few years of its existence were marked by the arrival of a number of significant first-party games on the horizon. After the debut of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, it became much more difficult to predict what the future holds for the PlayStation 5, since Sony intended to enter the live-service gaming market. According to Video Game Chronicle, these plans have apparently been put on hold, and the publication has revealed that six of its twelve future projects will supposedly be postponed beyond March 2026.
In light of the fact that titles such as Marathon seem to be in a state of temporary limbo, it is not obvious what precisely is planned for the PlayStation 5 in the long run. Sadly, the multiplayer version of the Last of Us game for PlayStation was completely scrapped, and there is a possibility that other titles that were similar to it have been secretly canceled as well. It seems that there are not a great deal of large-scale single-player releases now in the works to compensate for this, at least according to what we are aware of.
When it comes to the larger ecosystem, we have even less information regarding PlayStation VR2, the headgear for the PlayStation 5 that Sony has had a difficult time supporting with first-party hardware ever since it was released. Other than that, Sony is making a greater push into cloud gaming with its PlayStation Portal portable.
This is a gadget that is meant for remote play and is a fantastic companion for the PlayStation 5 (PS5). People who are serious about being a part of the PlayStation 5 ecosystem have a variety of options available to them after they have purchased the device.
Due to the fact that Sony’s goals seem to be continually moving about within this generation, it is just not apparent where all of this is going to go in the long run.
Having said that, it is the future. For the time being, Sony has provided a fantastic next-generation platform which comes with a multitude of unique games that are a must-play and will sell the system.
It was able to effectively build on the momentum that the PlayStation 4 had established; it innovated without going too far, and it provided gamers with a great deal of content to keep them occupied throughout some challenging times over the last several years.
In addition to offering the size reduction and capacity expansion that Sony’s system so sorely required, the new model merely serves to strengthen the argument in favor of Sony’s system.
