What's new about the PlayStation 5?
When the PlayStation 5 reveal took place on the 11th June 2020, it was like a sonic boom. Everywhere I looked on social media, all I could see were people tweeting, sharing, and liking anything to do with PlayStation’s latest release. I remember watching the event and feeling stunned at how PlayStation chose to announce their newest console.
Grand Theft Auto 5 kicked off the announcement. This game was a classic back on the PlayStation 3 and even had a remaster, plus a new update for the PlayStation 4. This new update was a first-person mode, which would allow for an entirely new player experience. GTA5 for the PS5 will be coming out in 2021, so time will only tell as to what will become fully available.
We also saw another game from a previous console, returning to the PS5: Rainbow Six Siege, with newer additions being announced such as Resident Evil 8: Village, and Stray – a game about a wandering cat.
After this preview, we looked at a new view of the controller. PlayStation is such a tease when it comes to showing off their new products. We only see it from the front slightly, with the view panning over the futuristic controller. From this angle, we see a slight glimmer of how interesting this console is going to look.
Next up, we heard some great feedback from the President and CEO Jim Ryan. He discussed the last 25 years with PlayStation and how one of the most iconic games, Grand Theft Auto 5, is coming back to the new console. Then he mentioned showing off all the new games that will be coming to the PS5. I was excited to watch gameplay and hear the outcome, but I was also far more intrigued by how the console was going to look, compared to that of its predecessors.
When looking further into the previous consoles from PlayStation, there is something similar about them all. The original console, back in 1994 is a flat box design and has a circular disc tray on top, whilst the PlayStation 2 is quite different. This console can stand up vertically and horizontally. This two-tiered console was rather unique for its age. The original could only ever be laid flat.
The PlayStation 3 however, was rounded — this also could be stood up vertically or laid down. I remember thinking that was a very interesting design when it first came out. The PlayStation 4 is very boxy, with its sharp angles that are crisp and clean. It was and still is, a rather beautiful console.
I was researching online, and I saw that a few people had mentioned that the odd-numbered consoles as mentioned above have slight curves to their designs, whereas the even-numbered consoles have a boxier look and feel. I never thought of this being a trend, just that they liked the different styles and would swap between the two each year.
Following on with this trend, the PlayStation 5 has some sleek, jaw-dropping curves. When I saw this on the reveal event, I was simply floored by its beauty. As with the other designs, it can be placed horizontally – which is perfect if you have the room on your console table for it.
I, however, prefer my consoles to be standing upright.
With this newer PlayStation, we have two colours, a black and white version. In my opinion, the white looks far more superior. The two outside curves protect the internal layer of the components hardwired within.
Lastly, PlayStation had announced two different versions of the same console for a very good reason. One console is the standard Blu-ray disc model, whereas the second edition is a completely digital version with no disc tray. There has been a lot of speculation about the different prices between the two. I believe that the original spec with the disc tray will be slightly more expensive than the pure digital version.
Which version will you be purchasing and why?
I’m leaning more towards the classic disc console, as I sometimes use my PlayStation to play my DVDs. Also, I simply enjoy buying physical copies of my games. I love to have them on display, and I enjoy looking at the artwork on the various boxes.
Now that the reveal is over, we were still awaiting one crucial piece of information: the price of both consoles… I hope that PlayStation reveals this soon so we can all save up for this truly stunning piece of kit.