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Writer's pictureMarshall Newton

The PS5: Is it Worth it?

Updated: Jun 4, 2021

by Marshall Newton


On Nov. 12, Playstation released their new console, the PS5. From better graphics to new designs and hardware, this next-gen console is the latest and greatest in gaming technology. But the question stands, is it worth buying? Here’s the breakdown:


The PS5, selling at $499.99, and the PS5 digital (downloadable games only), selling at $399.99, are more powerful than their predecessor and break away from Sony’s traditional stance in the gaming world. Firstly, the design of the PS5 is completely unexpected, inspired by the “black box style” which features a white on black color scheme.

The new design shape also allows for better ventilation, having vents from the back, going over the top, and then halfway down the front. This was a strategic move for Sony, since many had complained about how the PS4 sounded like a “jet-engine” after 30 minutes of play.


The new controller, now called the DualSense, is a new step in controller design and functionality that we have not seen in quite a while. There are six new or remastered features that it boasts: haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, motion sensor, create button, built-in mic, and an integrated speaker. The haptic feedback gives a more realistic rumble effect. Instead of there being one rumble, it now varies depending on if you are driving, shooting, etc. The adaptive triggers allow the developers to program the shooting buttons to simulate the real-life resistance of a gun. The motion sensors have been improved from the PS4 version, allowing the movement of the controller to affect movement on the game. This is for only certain games that are designed for that though. The create button replaces the share button, but is relatively the same thing- just upgraded. Instead of it being a screen recording or screenshot that you post, it now allows you to broadcast in more ways. Finally, the built-in mic and integrated speaker are very surprising but very cool. The mic allows you to talk to friends and other players without having to use a headset (although, a headset jack is there if you prefer that instead). The integrated speaker allows you to hear others and hear in-game noises like grunts or being shot.

This high-tech console also has been built to provide 8k resolution, but if you have an older TV or monitor that won’t support that, don't worry; Sony has added variable frequency to match the speed and quality of your TV and monitor to eliminate image lag during gameplay. They have also focused on decreasing load times. Although they are not able to instantly launch games as they hoped, they have decreased it significantly. They test-launched Marvel’s Spider-Man on the PS4, which resulted in 8.10 seconds to load. They then did the same test with the same game on the PS5 and the load time was 0.08 seconds. However, due to the smaller internal processor, it does not run as quickly as its main competitor Xbox, whose larger size allows for a larger processor. Another new visual feature is ray tracing, which is a new technology that mimics the way light travels in the real world. Applying this to games will allow gamers to experience more realistic interaction with shadows, reflections, and the rising and setting of the sun.


Finally, the newest (and yet a very old-school idea) are using SSD cards instead of disc-based hard drives for storage. The oldest consoles all used SSD cards, as disc-based hard drives were not a thing. However, Sony thought this would be a good idea since now players will be able to configure their downloads however they like. This means that they can download the whole game or only parts of games like local multiplayer, online play, or just the main story mode. They will also be able to delete just that part as well when they are done with it.

The only downside to the use of SSD cards is that they only have 250GB storage while the PS4 supported 8TB of internal storage plus an extra 8TB of an external hard drive. This may be a bit controversial, but we will see where it takes Sony and if they continue with the idea in later consoles.


All in all, the PS5 may have some ups and downs, but the system is definitely a new step in the future of gaming. Although it is listed at $499.99, it seems definitely worth the price. Plus, they sell the PS5 Digital at $399.99 and the only difference is that you can only download games off the PS5 (so no physical copies of the game).


Is it worth it? You decide.


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