What Does the PS5 Upgrade Do for Games?

Introduction

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) represents a significant leap forward in gaming technology, offering upgrades that have transformed how games are experienced. For gamers and developers alike, the PS5 brings a host of improvements that not only enhance the visual and auditory aspects of games but also improve overall performance and interactivity.

With features like ray tracing, ultra-fast load times, and haptic feedback, the PS5 has set a new standard for console gaming. In this article, we will explore what the PS5 upgrade does for games and how it impacts the gaming experience.

Unpacking the PS5 Hardware

Understanding the hardware behind the PS5 is crucial to appreciating the upgrades it offers. The console is powered by advanced technology designed to push the boundaries of gaming.

Custom CPU and GPU

The PS5 is equipped with a custom AMD CPU and GPU, providing immense processing power that enables higher frame rates and stunning graphics. The CPU, based on AMD’s Ryzen Zen 2 architecture, ensures smooth performance across all types of games, while the GPU supports ray tracing for realistic lighting and reflections.

Ultra-Fast SSD

The PS5’s ultra-fast solid-state drive (SSD) is one of its most notable features. With lightning-fast data transfer speeds, the SSD significantly reduces load times, allowing for seamless transitions and uninterrupted gameplay. This means players can dive into their favorite games almost instantly.

3D Audio Technology

3D audio technology in the PS5 offers a more immersive sound experience, allowing players to hear sounds from all directions. This feature enhances situational awareness in games, making it easier to pinpoint the source of sounds and feel truly immersed in the game world.

DualSense Controller

The DualSense controller is a revolutionary component of the PS5, featuring haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that provide a tactile response to in-game actions. These innovations offer a more immersive experience by simulating the physical sensations of various interactions, such as the tension of a bowstring or the sensation of driving on different terrains.

Enhanced Graphics and Visual Fidelity

One of the most impressive aspects of the PS5 upgrade is its ability to deliver breathtaking graphics and visual fidelity. This improvement is achieved through several key features that set the console apart from its predecessors.

Ray Tracing Technology

Ray tracing is a cutting-edge graphics technology that simulates the behavior of light in real time. This results in more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections, adding a new level of detail to game environments. With ray tracing, games on the PS5 can achieve visuals that were previously only possible on high-end PCs.

Impact on Game Environments

Ray tracing enhances the realism of game environments by accurately depicting how light interacts with surfaces. This results in lifelike shadows and reflections, making the world feel more dynamic and believable.

Examples of Ray Tracing in Games

Games like “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” showcase the power of ray tracing on the PS5, with stunning visuals that bring their respective worlds to life.

4K Resolution and High Frame Rates

The PS5 supports 4K resolution, delivering crisp and detailed visuals that enhance the gaming experience. Additionally, the console can achieve high frame rates of up to 120 frames per second (fps), providing smooth and fluid gameplay.

Benefits of 4K Gaming

4K resolution offers greater clarity and detail, allowing players to see every nuance in the game world. This level of detail enhances immersion and makes games more visually appealing.

High Frame Rates and Gameplay

High frame rates improve the responsiveness of games, making controls feel more precise and reducing motion blur. This is especially important for fast-paced games where quick reactions are crucial.

HDR Support

High Dynamic Range (HDR) support on the PS5 enhances color accuracy and contrast, resulting in more vibrant and lifelike images. HDR technology ensures that both bright and dark areas of a scene are rendered accurately, providing a more immersive visual experience.

Faster Load Times and Seamless Gameplay

The PS5’s ultra-fast SSD is a game-changer when it comes to load times and gameplay transitions. This improvement enhances the overall gaming experience by minimizing waiting times and providing smoother gameplay.

SSD Speed and Performance

The SSD in the PS5 offers read speeds of up to 5.5 GB/s, allowing games to load in seconds rather than minutes. This speed drastically reduces load times, enabling players to jump into their favorite games almost instantly.

Impact on Game Design

The fast load times afforded by the SSD have allowed developers to create more expansive and detailed game worlds. With less time spent waiting for assets to load, developers can focus on creating more engaging and dynamic environments.

Examples of Games with Improved Load Times

Games like “Demon’s Souls” and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” demonstrate the power of the PS5’s SSD, with load times reduced to mere seconds and seamless transitions between areas.

Quick Resume and Game Switching

The PS5 features a quick resume capability, allowing players to switch between games and resume their progress without having to reload from the start. This feature enhances convenience and provides a more fluid gaming experience.

Benefits of Quick Resume

Quick resume allows players to easily switch between multiple games, making it easier to enjoy different experiences without losing progress. This feature is particularly useful for gamers who like to switch between single-player and multiplayer games.

Immersive Audio and Soundscapes

The PS5 upgrade includes significant improvements in audio technology, providing a more immersive sound experience that enhances gameplay.

3D Audio Technology

3D audio on the PS5 creates a spatial sound experience, allowing players to hear sounds from all directions. This technology enhances situational awareness and adds depth to the gaming experience.

Applications of 3D Audio in Games

3D audio is used to create realistic soundscapes in games, allowing players to hear footsteps approaching from behind or the roar of an engine as it passes by. This technology adds a new layer of immersion to games like “Returnal” and “Demon’s Souls.”

Enhanced Headset Support

The PS5 supports a range of headsets, including the Pulse 3D wireless headset, which is designed to take full advantage of the console’s 3D audio capabilities. This enhances the overall audio experience and provides greater clarity and detail in sound.

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Revolutionary DualSense Controller Features

The DualSense controller is a key component of the PS5’s immersive experience, offering features that enhance gameplay through tactile feedback.

Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers

The DualSense controller’s haptic feedback provides a more immersive experience by simulating the feel of different in-game actions. Adaptive triggers offer variable resistance, allowing players to feel the tension of a bowstring or the recoil of a weapon.

Impact on Gameplay

Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers add a new level of immersion to games, making interactions feel more realistic and engaging. This technology enhances gameplay by providing a tactile response to in-game actions.

Examples of Games Utilizing DualSense Features

Games like “Astro’s Playroom” and “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart” showcase the potential of the DualSense controller, with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers enhancing the overall experience.

Built-in Microphone and Communication

The DualSense controller features a built-in microphone, allowing players to communicate easily with friends and teammates during multiplayer games. This feature enhances convenience and interaction in gaming sessions.

Backward Compatibility and Game Library Expansion

The PS5 offers backward compatibility with most PS4 games, allowing players to enjoy an extensive library of titles on the new console.

Enhanced Performance for PS4 Titles

Many PS4 games benefit from improved performance on the PS5, with faster load times, enhanced graphics, and higher frame rates. This allows players to revisit their favorite titles with improved visuals and performance.

Examples of Enhanced PS4 Games

Games like “The Last of Us Part II” and “God of War” receive updates that enhance their performance on the PS5, offering a more immersive experience.

Expanding Game Library with New Releases

The PS5’s game library continues to expand with new releases and exclusive titles, offering players a wide range of experiences to enjoy. Upcoming games like “Horizon Forbidden West” and “God of War: Ragnarok” promise to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the PS5.

Future Potential and Updates

The PS5 is poised to receive updates and enhancements that will keep it at the forefront of gaming innovation.

Firmware Updates and New Features

Sony regularly releases firmware updates that improve the console’s performance and introduce new features. These updates ensure that the PS5 remains a cutting-edge gaming platform.

Upcoming Game Releases and Innovations

The PS5’s game library is constantly expanding, with upcoming releases that promise to push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming. Titles like “Gran Turismo 7” and “Final Fantasy XVI” are highly anticipated by fans and critics alike.

Evolving Gaming Ecosystem

The PS5 is part of a broader gaming ecosystem that includes cloud gaming and mobile integration. As Sony continues to innovate, players can expect seamless connectivity across devices and platforms, offering new ways to enjoy their favorite games.

FAQs

What are the key upgrades of the PS5 compared to the PS4?

The PS5 features a custom CPU and GPU, an ultra-fast SSD, ray tracing, 3D audio, and a DualSense controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

How does ray tracing enhance graphics on the PS5?

Ray tracing simulates realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections, resulting in more lifelike game environments and enhanced visual fidelity.

What benefits does the PS5’s SSD offer?

The SSD significantly reduces load times,

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PlayStation 5 Review – 2023 Update

October 19, 2024Table of Contents Toggle PS5 DualSense Controller ReviewScore: 9Fun, Anyone?What We Said About The PlayStation VR2What We Said About The PlayStation PortalPS5 Buying Guide Note: The PlayStation 5 is now almost 4 years old, and has been officially replaced on store shelves by the new PS5 Slim. We’ve updated our review to reflect that new model, as well as the current state of Sony’s console at large. You can view the original 2020 review here or even dive into our latest coverage of the new PS5 Pro. After three jam-packed years filled with multiple peripherals, numerous updates, and hundreds of games, the PlayStation 5 has cemented itself as the most popular home console, with nearly double the units sold as the Xbox Series X and S. It may look a little bit different thanks to the 2023 Slim model revision, but today’s PS5 isn’t radically different from what came out three years ago: it’s still a weird-looking workhorse of a machine with a best-in-class controller, and it can more than hold its own when playing the most demanding games available today. For the most part, you can put aside speed comparisons with the Xbox Series X. If the past few years of in-depth Performance Reviews of cross-platform games has taught us anything, it’s that both consoles are up to the task of running current games. The PS5 has an AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU, 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, Wi-Fi 6, and gigabit Ethernet, which keeps it competitive with the Xbox’s slightly higher specs. And if your TV can handle it, it supports Variable Refresh Rate to combat screen tearing, and some games offer the ability to run at 120 frames per second at the cost of resolution or graphics features like ray tracing. It’s even got 1440p support if you want to plug into a gaming monitor. The newest model of PS5, officially called the PS5 Slim, packs all of those same features into a more compact, slimmer design that’s a lot nicer on the eyes than the bulky launch version. As a nice bonus, you get a slightly larger 1TB storage capacity, for 848GB of usable space – 181GB more than the launch version. That right there addresses two of our criticisms from the original version: it was huge, and didn’t have as much storage as the Xbox Series X. You can fast-travel to nearly any point on the map in less than six seconds. On that note, one of this generation’s most important upgrades is the switch from traditional hard drives to solid-state storage drives, or PS5 SSDs. That dramatically improves loading times across the board and enables games to load in new objects on the fly so you don’t get pop-in when, for example, swinging through New York in Spider-Man 2. The PS5’s SSD can read 5.5GB in just one second (which is, on paper, twice as fast as the Series X). In practical terms, that speed means you can fast-travel to nearly any point on the map in less than six seconds. After generations of reading tooltips and staring at splash screens, it’s pretty unreal how quickly some games load. Bear in mind, though, that a single Call of Duty game is 150GB these days, so you may still want to invest in extra storage. To do that you can easily pop off the side panels to install an M.2 SSD drive right off the shelf, which currently range from affordable 250GB to 4TB monsters that can cost more than two PS5s alone. That gives the PS5 more flexibility than the Xbox Series X and its proprietary expansion cards. The PS5 Slim is sold as either a digital-only or disc model for $449.99 and $499.99 respectively, but if you feel remorse after giving up your physical media you can buy a drive separately for $80 and snap it on yourself. Heads up: you do have to be connected to the internet to activate the drive on a new console. While the Slim version is about 30% smaller, it’s still a weirdly misshapen, eye-catching thing. Our previous reviewer, Luke Reilly, described the original PS5 as far and away the most flamboyant-looking console he’s ever owned. While the Slim version is about 30% smaller, it still fits that description. It’s a weirdly misshapen, eye-catching thing, and if you want to lay it horizontally you need to attach a set of little legs between the slots on the disc drive side. They click in quickly and give it a reasonable amount of sturdiness. If you are more of the vertical persuasion, it’s downright sturdy in that orientation as long as you have the disc drive. It’s just a shame that the vertical stand isn’t packed in and has to be purchased separately for $30. To accommodate that swappable disc drive, there are now two face plates on each side instead of the singular panel per side on the original. I thought I wouldn’t like combining the glossy top panels with the standard matte finishes on the bottom panels, but it’s grown on me. Granted, it’s still very new, but every time I see the light reflecting off of it I feel like it’s the first day I took it out of the box, and the combined gloss of the top plates and the central part of the PS5 gives it a pleasant luster. The panels are all pretty simple to remove, which is excellent for regular console cleaning, but also makes me look forward to customizing its look with the multicolored PS5 faceplates Sony says it’ll sell at some point in the future. On the front, you’ll find one Hi-Speed USB Type-C port, one SuperSpeed (10Gbps) Type-C port and the power button. If you have a disc drive, the eject button is actually next to the slot instead of next to the power button – Sony’s finally learned! On the back there are two SuperSpeed USB type-A ports, the HDMI 2.1 port, and Ethernet. That’s plenty for charging controllers, plugging in external storage, and hooking up a PSVR 2. But sorry audiophiles, there’s still no optical audio out. PS5 DualSense Controller Review Verdict: With the DualSense, Sony has both made a more comfortable gamepad for traditional gameplay, and introduced some very exciting features. The haptics and adaptive triggers make an immediately noticeable difference in games that make use of them, and they offer the exciting potential for new and interesting gameplay experiences. Except for battery life, which remains a weak point, the DualSense controller is everything you want to see in a next-gen upgrade. –Mike Epstein Score: 9 Read the full PS5 DualSense Controller Review Apart from the big graphical power jump and short load times, the biggest difference between this generation of PlayStation and the last is the part you hold in your hands. You can check out our full review of the amazing DualSense controller for a more in-depth dive into its features and battery life, but looking at it at the end of 2023, the extent of its wonders varies depending on what game you’re playing and the lengths the developers went to in designing around it. The three-year-old Astro’s Playroom remains one of the best showcases for everything the DualSense can do, and though Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Housemarque’s Returnal are other great examples, many others still neglect or overuse the haptic feedback, sometimes making pulling the trigger a chore to the point where I’ve just had to turn it off altogether. But even then, it’s still a nice option to have that you don’t get anywhere else. It’s also worth mentioning that I did suffer some very slight drift on my launch controller, but that didn’t happen for a little over a year, and I’ve seen no issues with the replacements. This is a far cry from what I dealt with during the PS4 era, where I probably saw drift after about eight months with each controller. Fun, Anyone? When you fire it up after the simple setup process, the PS5’s interface doesn’t feel wildly removed from its roots on the PS4, but it’s definitely different – and significantly more elegant in a number of ways. Selecting a game immediately takes over the main menu background and music with dramatic effect. A single tap of the PlayStation button in the center of the controller will bring up what Sony calls the Control Center, which is a little like a taskbar on a Windows PC and lets you quickly switch between your active and recent games and apps like Netflix and Spotify. It’s a big improvement over PS4 – back then, checking things like current downloads and what friends of yours are online required a bunch of shuffling back and forth, up and down, and left and right through menu icons; the PS5’s Control Center places all that info at our fingertips. You can also organize your library into Gamelists, which are basically folders. But heads up, the PS5 doesn’t really have a web browser. For those who live for the thrill of the Trophy hunt, the objects of your desire are easily accessible to view from each game’s individual splash page on the dashboard, but Trophy info can also be included in the Activity Card view. And as a bonus, you can pin up five trophies to the side of your screen to keep track of your progress as you play. What We Said About The PlayStation VR2 The PlayStation VR2 may seem pricey, given that it costs $150 more than the base PS5 Digital Edition console you’ll need to use it. Even so, it’s such a quantum leap over the original PSVR in terms of ease of use, visual quality, and immersion that any PlayStation owner who loves VR should upgrade as soon as possible. Its 4K HDR OLED screen and excellently tactile Sense controllers are the most obvious improvement, but plentiful quality-of-life changes and the raw horsepower of the PS5 set a new standard for how VR games should play and feel on console. The downside is that, like any new platform, its thin launch lineup makes its lack of backward compatibility with original PSVR games a significant problem, but one that will only improve as Sony and other developers roll out new games that take advantage of the PSVR2’s unique features. – Gabriel Moss, February 16, 2023 Score: 9Read the full PlayStation VR2 review and the PSVR2 PC Adapter There’s other interesting stuff sprinkled throughout the PS5’s UI too. 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Sony’s game streaming tech also enables features like watching a friend play a game picture-in-picture while you chat with them and play something else entirely, or use Share Play to let them try playing your game over the internet. What We Said About The PlayStation Portal The PlayStation Portal is the most surprising device I’ve ever come away from loving after going in loaded with skepticism. It’s such a better experience than using your phone with a slap-on controller, and it works so much better than I was anticipating. I really love the freedom it gives me to play my PS5 from anywhere with decent WiFi coverage, especially when the rest of my family was using the TV to (somewhat ironically) play the Switch. 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PS Portal Shocks Critics: Sales Soar a Year After Launch

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Nintendo leaks password-protected Pokemon console Apparently Nintendo’s next hardware project is called “Ounce”

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October 10, 2024Table of Contents Toggle Budget PS5 Consoles: The RefurbsPS5 Slim Units Now Available, TooRefurbished DualSense Controllers AvailableWhere to Get Refurbished PS5sFinal Thoughts Well PlayStation fans, we have some good news for you! Good news, then: If you have been waiting for your chance to snag a PS5 without emptying your wallet, Sony is here for you. Sony is making refurbished PS5s, and DualSense controllers more widely available in time for the holidays That’s a golden opportunity for anyone who is trying to budget their money towards the latest in gaming hardware. Budget PS5 Consoles: The Refurbs This was first spotted back in September, with the discovery of certified refurbished PS5 consoles and DualSense controllers on PlayStation Direct. Read also; PS Plus users: do not let LittleBigPlanet 3 slip away forever Now those deals are live and players are being offered some good choices at a low price bracket, without sacrificing the standard of quality you would expect from Sony. Certified refurbished PS5s are put through the same rigorous recertification process that guarantees the products are up to par with brand-new ones. Sony says that they test and recertify each refurbished product to work the same as new. Those who are seeking to save some money can find the refurb PS5 disc versions for $399, and you can cop a digital version for just $349. While not the best of deals, it is a pretty decent discount compared to buying brand-new consoles though, so for those looking to save each penny possible the deal might just be worth it. PS5 Slim Units Now Available, Too But that’s not all. If you haven’t picked one up yet (or are looking to add another), Sony is currently offering a time-limited deal on its recently-released PS5 Slim consoles. Through this limited time offer, the disc and digital versions of the PS5 Slim are getting $50 off. That said, our Slim models are going for $449/$399. The PS5 Slim might be attractive for its size, but the refurbished models remain a great deal if you’re also looking to save more money. In either case, you are saving on a first-rate console option over at Walmart. Refurbished DualSense Controllers Available Sony is also discounting refurbished DualSense controllers along with the consoles. Refurb controllers start from $59.99 (and go up a few bucks for special colors, like Galactic Purple which is $64.99). You can finally pick up a backup controller or replace an old one in a bunch of colors Read also: News Wake Up to Adventure: Introducing the Nintendo Alarmo Alarm Clock Where to Get Refurbished PS5s All of these certified refurbished consoles and controllers are available only through PlayStation Direct. This means, that if you live in a spot not supported by PlayStation Direct when it comes to shipping, you may need to consider other neighborhood or “alternative” methods of savings. Final Thoughts Be it the new PS5 Slim with a temporary price cut or the cheaper, refurbished launch models, there is great value for gamers in Sony’s latest offerings. These refurbished PS5s are all tested and recertified, giving you the same high quality as a new item, but at a discounted price. Holiday 2024 is just around the corner, so this might be a great avenue to get hold of a PS5 for less than RRP. Check the links below for deals on headphones & tablets now! [...] Read more...

PS Plus users: do not let LittleBigPlanet 3 slip away forever

October 10, 2024Table of Contents Toggle These are the Cautions on FREE LICENSE In Your Anti-VirusHow to Protect Your AccessAct Fast: DLC and MoreWhat You Should Do NextThe Final Countdown Attention PlayStation Plus Extra / Premium Subscribers! For LittleBigPlanet 3 fans, the storm clouds are gathering as the game will soon be delisted, and if you’re not quick it might go forever. Many players are looking to return to the beloved title before it slips out of the catalog next week. But before you click download, you must follow this crucial step. These are the Cautions on FREE LICENSE In Your Anti-Virus We’ve been warning you of potential licensing issues that would haunt your ownership ever since the PlayStation Plus revamp. If you had previously claimed LittleBigPlanet 3 (in the PS Plus monthly line-up back in February 2017) and you later tried to download it again from the Extra or Premium catalog, this would result in being locked out of the game until now. Read also: Bloober Team Offers Behind-The-Scenes Look At The Creation Of Silent Hill 2 Remake Protagonist James Why is this happening? If you downloaded a game from the monthly catalog and then downloaded one out of the Extra or Premium catalog; it can be rewritten on top of the license you previously got. This means if you have already claimed LittleBigPlanet 3, which has previously been available on PS Plus monthly games, you may cancel this license by downloading/moving it from the new collection and leaving the service entirely. How to Protect Your Access So to be on the safe side, if you already claimed LittleBigPlanet 3 back in February 2017 check your account faux PlayStation account! If you did, though, that’s a critical point: you must download _this_ version of the game and not another/better version currently hosted in the Extra or Premium catalogs. Failure to do so will get your license canceled and no More games will be at your access. Act Fast: DLC and More Also, when you are checking your library don’t miss the DLCs that are still available for free on the PlayStation Store. So be sure to get that while you can! This will help you have a better gaming experience as well as guarantee you the content before it is gone. Read also: PlayStation Game Catalog October 2024: Check Out These Must-Play Titles! What You Should Do Next Check Your Library: Did You Claim LittleBigPlanet 3 in February 2017 Get the Right Version: If you have it in your Library, download that instead of what’s currently up in Extra/Premium Download the DLC: Head over to the PS Store to pick up any free LittleBigPlanet 3-related DLC items. The Final Countdown There’s not much time to pick it up, either – the game is going off sale next week. If you like your LBP3 amongst the other games, do this now to soften the blow of a possible break. So, although it is a bit annoying that Sony remains silent on these licensing issues, taking this ability to preserve a classic from you forever – hopefully at least with the above steps taken you can rest easy! But in Gaming, always the Safe side is better. Get in quick and don’t miss out on LittleBigPlanet 3 and Keep Creating! [...] Read more...