Sony Interactive Entertainment’s next-generation PlayStation 5 console will be released in stores in Nov. 12. Read on for more details, including pricing and launch titles.
Release Date
The PS5 will be released on Nov. 12 for the U.S. and Nov. 19 for the rest of the world. Sony will partner with retailers to sell the console exclusively online — no need to camp out at physical retailers and risk spreading COVID-19, the company recently announced.
Price
There will be two versions on the console: the PlayStation 5, which retails for $499.99 and plays physical hardware, and a less expensive PlayStation 5 digital edition, which will retail for $399.99.
See you in November! pic.twitter.com/CjrQ65rJ5a
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 16, 2020
Games and Game Engine
Launch titles include Insomniac Games’ “Spider-Man: Miles Morales,” the sequel to “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” which was awarded Game of the Year in 2018.
The PS5 will also launch with Young Horse’s “Bugsnax,” a family-friendly bug catching game; Treyarch’s “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War,” and 2K’s “NBA 2K21.” Ubisoft’s recently released “Watch Dogs Legion” will also be available on the PS5 at launch.
Some upcoming games will be released for the PlayStation 5 next year, including a third-person action game from Gearbox called “Godfall“. Other hit titles like Ubisoft’s forthcoming “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,” “Ghost Of Tsushima,” “The Last of Us Part II,” “Persona 5 Royal” and the “Final Fantasy VII” remake will be ported to PS5. The PS5 supports games made on the latest Unreal Engine 5, the latest edition of a game development software made by “Fortnite” developer Epic Games. In a May 13 demo, Unreal Engine developers showcased the stunning graphics quality, which is mostly thanks to its ability to use film quality, high-resolution graphics to render landscapes.
During the September PS5 showcase, several new titles were announced, including an open-world Harry Potter game, “Hogwarts Legacy;” horror game “Five Nights at Freddys”; “Final Fantasy XVI” and a new “Resident Evil.”
Controllers
Sony revealed details of its new DualSense controller in early April. The new controller is two-toned and white, a departure from Sony’s typical monochromatic black branding and will feature a built-in microphone to let players chat with friends without hooking up a headset for short periods of time. Oh, and the controller’s grips are made out of tiny PlayStation logo buttons (see here for a zoomed-in visual), which isn’t exactly essential, but still cool.
Specifications
Extended storage is a must for gamers who enjoy playing several large titles at once or don’t want all your games clogging the console’s internal hard drive. Sony confirmed that the PS5 will support extended USB drive storage from third-party manufacturers like SeaGate and Toshiba. The PS5’s graphics system will support 4K visuals at up to 120Hz, up to double the refresh rate on standard televisions. PlayStation platform planning and management lead Hideaki Nishino delves into these specs on The PS5 website. PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny also provided a more detailed look in a March 18 video.
Compatibility
The newest console will run PSVR games and be backward-compatible with the PS4, meaning it can run older PS4 games as well as the latest editions. Sony revealed a concept design of its new DualSense controller and many versions of PS5 concept art have circulated the internet. But unlike its competitor Microsoft, which has already shown off its prototype Xbox Series X, fans still aren’t sure what the PS5 will look like.