Sony has confirmed its next generation console, creatively called the PlayStation 5, will be released in late 2020 and will feature a “completely revamped” user interface, a whole new controller DualShock system employing haptic mapping and the ability to configure game installs.
In Wired article, system Mark Cerny outlined the way in which the architecture would work with the consoles new Solid State Drive (SSD), allowing more control and configuration around game installs, updates and removal.
“Rather than treating games like a big block of data,” Cerny said, “we’re allowing finer-grained access to the data.”
The addition of the SSD means that developers and publishers also don’t have to duplicate content as the read speed is so much greater. Cerny said this would not only help with games running, but would change the way in which developers look at creating games for the console.
And with the speed comes mandatory downloads.
The controller too will be upgraded with haptic feedback and a recently published patent shows a hole which will drive a proprietary voice-activated AI being developed by Sony, more details of which will follow in time.
Finally the User Interface (UI) will get a complete overhaul. The new home screen will give more detailed information about the games you’re playing and booting into games will also be a lot faster. They’ll connect you directly to “ joinable activities in real time,” for example.
The race for the next generation of console is now underway with Sony snapping at the heels of Microsoft’s Scarlett announcement.
