After months of secrecy, Sony finally
revealed the design of its next-generation PlayStation 5 console. Actually, it
unveiled two of them, a standard edition and a digital edition with no optical
drive. The PlayStation 5 has a sleek,
vertical design dominated by white panels on either side sandwiching a curved
black interior. The center portion has what looks like a standard USB-A and a
USB-C port on the front along with blue LED lighting and vents along the top
curve. The back of the console remains a mystery for now.
The PS5 is placed within a vertical stand,
something Sony has always had for its consoles starting with the PS2. Whether
this stand is part of the design or a separate accessory is yet unknown. The
two consoles are marked by the lack of the 4K UHD Blu-ray drive on the Digital
Edition. This model is thinner and has a more symmetric design while the
standard edition is bulkier and somewhat more awkwardly proportioned.
The overall design aesthetic is exactly
the sort of outlandishness that one would expect from the first iteration of
any new PlayStation generation. It matches the DualSense controller design
perfectly, which already foreshadowed the white and black aesthetic back in
April. Compared to Microsoft's stark and minimal Xbox Series X design, the
PlayStation 5 looks like something out of science fiction.
Sony also showcased a range of accessories
for the new consoles. We have already been made familiar with the
aforementioned DualSense controller, which will feature haptic feedback and a
built-in microphone. There will also be a Charging Station for charging two
DualSense controllers simultaneously, an HD Camera for possible motion
tracking, a new Pulse 3D Wireless Headset, and finally, a Media Remote for
using the console as a Blu-ray player and streaming box.
Sony also showcased a ton of new games,
including Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran
Turismo 7, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Resident Evil Village, NBA 2K21,
Deathloop, Hitman III, and more. There's also an update for GTA V, which will
get additional content, technical improvements, visual upgrades, and
performance enhancements when it releases on the PS5 in the second half of
2021.
