Everything We Know About The Next Console Generation
Everything We Know About The Next Console Generation
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So, is the future finally here, or what? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten things we know about the PS5 & Xbox Series X.
#10: Backwards Compatibility
The question of backwards compatibility remains a big one. While the PS4 was enormously successful, most people bemoaned its lack of proper backwards compatibility, relying instead on some expensive and unpredictable streaming service instead. PlayStation’s CEO Jim Ryan has hinted strongly about the PS5 having PS4 backwards compatibility. There are also rumors that it’ll also support older PlayStation iterations, but so far there’s no confirmation! Those going with Xbox this generation have nothing to fear – Phil Spencer has confirmed that the Xbox Series X will be backwards compatible with the original Xbox, Xbox 360, AND Xbox One! So now you can finally play that game from 2004 that’s been in your backlog for sixteen years!
#9: Still Using Discs
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You may have thought we’d be leaving physical discs behind as we venture deeper into the age of streaming and digital downloads. But it looks like they’ll be around for at least one more generation cycle. It has been confirmed that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will be employing Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc support, which can currently hold 66GB or 100GB. That said, you can certainly still download if that’s more your thing. But fear not, those of you who like a physical collection. Discs aren’t going anywhere.
#8: Configurable Installation on PS5
One of the biggest pains of modern gaming is the laborious installation process. “Red Dead Redemption II” comes out, you’re psyched as hell to play it…and then you have to wait hours while the massive thing installs even with a physical copy. Luckily, that problem is being addressed for PS5 through a Configurable Installation. What this means is that players will be able to install the parts of the game they want and/or delete certain sections of the game without installing or deleting the entire thing. For example, you can choose to download just the multiplayer component without worrying about campaign or vice versa.
#7: SSD Storage
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It’s confirmed that both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X will employ SSD storage over traditional hard drives. SSD will result in significantly faster loading times, as an SSD can read and write at speeds up to 500MB/s, compared to a traditional hard drive’s 160MB/s. Sony’s Mark Cerny claims that the SSD is “the key to the next generation” and that the PS5’s SSD “has a raw bandwidth higher than any SSD available for PCs.” To demonstrate his point, Cerny played “Spider-Man” on a PS4 Pro and an SSD-equipped devkit device. The PS4 Pro version loaded in eight seconds. The devkit? 0.8 seconds. Hold on to your butts, people.
#6: 4K 60fps Support
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As we venture into the roaring 20s 2.0, 4K should become even more mainstream. Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon are offering 4K content, 4K TVs are getting cheaper by the day, and the PS4 Pro & Xbox One X already support 4K resolutions, though they struggle to hit 60fps frame rates. Well it looks like the Next Gen will. PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has stated his aim to bring 120Hz, 4K, 60 FPS gaming to the PS5, and Phil Spencer has also claimed that the Xbox Series X is aiming to support native 4K at 60 FPS. Both have even spouted claims of basic 8K support, but we should really pump the brakes on that for now. Let’s focus on getting true 4K first!
#5: Ray Tracing
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It’s been confirmed that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will employ realtime ray tracing. And you may be asking, what exactly is this “ray tracing?” In simple terms, it’s a technique that allows for lifelike distorted reflections on glossy surfaces. Because the procedure requires intense power to render, such a procedure is not as widely adopted and it isn’t possible on current gen consoles. Nevertheless, Some PC games do employ ray tracing tech, including “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” “Metro Exodus,” and the upcoming “Cyberpunk 2077.” Expect to see a ton more in the not-so-distant future.
#4: Price?
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Perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s mind are the prices. Because lets face it; all this fancy tech can’t come cheap! Will we be facing another PS3 fiasco? The 60 GB PS3 infamously launched for $600 and it nearly killed the PlayStation brand as we know it. Unfortunately, we still have no word on pricing from either company, and there are other factors worth considering. Namely inflation, rising manufacturing costs, and the trade war between US & China, of which Sony, Microsoft & Nintendo jointly expressed concerns. Historically though, both Sony & Microsoft have sold their launch consoles at a loss, in favour of recouping revenue from exclusive game sales. So it’s likely they’ll still stay under the $600 mark
#3: The Xbox Series X Might Be More Powerful
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If the rumors and leaks are to be believed, the Xbox Series X will be more powerful than the PS5. Digital Foundry released some leaked data through Eurogamer claiming that the Series X will have the power of a high-end PC, they also suggest that the Xbox will be 1.3x as powerful as the PS5. This corroborates what Phil Spencer meant by the Xbox “set[ting] the benchmark for console gaming.” Yeah, that’s probably just PR speak, but you never know, there might be some truth to it! That said, a more powerful GPU doesn’t guarantee success. Consoles are sold largely on price and enticing exclusives, not their GPUs being slightly more powerful than their competitor’s.
#2: Xbox Is Not Focused on VR
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The late 2010s promised a surge in virtual reality gaming. 2016 saw the commercial release of the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, AND the PlayStation VR. Unfortunately for some; virtual reality technology just doesn’t seem to be “there” yet, and the headsets so far haven’t been able to breach their niche market. Phil Spencer realizes this, and as such, the Xbox Series X will not feature virtual reality capabilities. Spencer has numerous issues with VR, including its imposed isolation, imperfect video games, and lack of substantial sales. He claims that “nobody is asking for VR” from the Series X. For PlayStation though, Mark Cerny has confirmed that the current PSVR headsets will be compatible with the PS5. Though no talk about a new headset yet.
#1: November Release Dates
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Perhaps the biggest question ASIDE from the price is just when these things are coming out. Both consoles have been confirmed for “Holiday 2020,” so that narrows it down to the usual October/November release window. We can probably narrow it down to November, as the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One all launched in November. But can we get even MORE direct? Allegedly. So says 4chan and Twitter leaks, we should expect the PS5 on November 20 and the Xbox Series X on November 22. This is more than a little questionable, seeing as how November 22 is a Sunday. But it would line-up to a pre-Black Friday release, which is November 27th in 2020. So who knows?
