The next generation PlayStation console, the PS5, is coming in 2020, and though we have some details about its capabilities and specifications, Sony is being rather tight lipped about specifics. But details are slowly starting to leak out into the public, and an in-depth interview with Wired saw Digital Foundry dig up some exciting tidbits that haven't been revealed before.
For starters, the Dualshock controller has a new "hole" in it, which it's speculated could be for a microphone to enable a virtual assistant, like Alexa -- though we wouldn't be surprised to see a Sony-developed alternative, or at least something bespoke for the PlayStation platform.
This is part of a new drive by Sony to improve the "feel" of games, giving players more information about the game world via haptic feedback — think of it like the precision rumble effects that Nintendo instigated with the Nintendo Switch. There are also new triggers which will allow precise inputs, but also varied strengths of interaction. If the in-game action is hard, then the trigger pull will be stiffer — like pulling on a bow string. If it's easier, then it'll be easier to pull.
Expect games with different guns to have different feeling triggers with the PS5.
Sony has also talked up the speed of its bespoke SSD, claiming nothing on PC can emulate it. That seems unlikely, but arguably the only real way to improve upon the speed seen with the likes of PCIE 4.0 devices, would be to integrate the SSD into the motherboard itself. That does present problems in terms of limited size, but since consoles aren't typically upgradeable, then that may not be an issue.
It's also possible that it'll be some sort of optane-like RAM drive, but those have never seen a real commercial application, so we don't think that's likely.
What are some features you'd like to see on the PS5?
