Sony announces two versions of PlayStation 5 console

Photo courtesy of Public Domain, Wikipedia

After many long months of speculation about what the prices of the next generation gaming consoles are going to be, the world now finally has all the information regarding the two big titans in console gaming: Xbox and PlayStation.

On Sept. 16, all while in a virtual PlayStation 5 conference, Sony announced its two versions of the newest console that will be available on launch, as well as finally announcing the long-awaited price points and release dates.

Both versions will launch on Nov. 12 in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, while the rest of the world will have to wait for their release on Nov. 19. This week-long difference between the two release dates has caused some dissatisfaction within the gaming community. However, the later production and release dates are mostly due to the challenge and safety of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is understood by gaming enthusiasts.

The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will cost $399 on release, while the version with the Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc Drive will be $499. According to PlayStation.Blog, “Both PS5 models use the same custom processor with integrated CPU and GPU for high-fidelity visuals, including 4K graphics and ray-tracing support, as well as the same ultra-high-speed SSD with integrated I/O for lightning-fast loading.”

Additionally, “PS5’s 3D audio and the DualSense Wireless Controller will also provide the same heightened sense of immersion on all PS5s”

While many fans might wonder why anybody would even buy the disc drive version if the digital only version offers the same performance for a hundred dollars less, there is a very good argument for the disc drive version.

Physical copies of video games go on sale more often than digital ones, and if a consumer buys video games only digitally, they will limit themselves only to the PlayStation Store. The hundred dollars you spend on the disc drive version now might very well save you several hundreds of dollars in the long run.

The conference also included many new video game reveals, which will always be the main selling point of a console, no matter how impressive the hardware.

Aside from getting a gameplay trailer for the already announced launch title “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales,” Sony also revealed a new Harry Potter RPG called “Hogwarts Legacy,” which has been leaked years ago, but has finally been officially confirmed to come sometime in 2021.

Other popular games include a complete remake of “Demon’s Souls” and the reveal for “Final Fantasy XVI.” These are keeping fans excited for the long-anticipated games and console.

The biggest news of the night, however, came at the end of the conference, with a sneak peek at a new “God of War” installment that just said, “Ragnarok is coming” with the release date of 2021. Many fans, including me, are skeptical about such an optimistic release date, and the gaming community already expects a delay, but we all hope we will be proven wrong.

In an attempt to respond to Microsoft’s GamePass (a video game subscription service), Sony also announced the PlayStation Plus Collection, which will include many generation defining PlayStation 4 games for all PS5 owners who also have a PS Plus subscription.

It was a nice surprise to see that the prices for the consoles will be somewhat reasonable and that the release dates are around the corner, but Sony already had troubles with the amount of preorders. Let us hope that the next wave of preorders will go over more smoothly.

lmarjano@ramapo.edu