Since November, the PlayStation 5 has become elusive as most stores that have them in stock immediately sell out either due to buyers or bots online. As a result, the console has reached cryptid status and left players contemplating if it's even worth it to purchase the console any time soon. While there is truth in its difficulty to purchase, that doesn't make it any less worth purchasing should the opportunity arise.
The console itself improves in every way from its previous iteration while still keeping the previous generation just as important as well. This is proven with cross-play capabilities between consoles and the continuous support Sony is giving the PlayStation 4. However, just because the PS4 isn't outdated doesn't make the PS5 an unnecessary buy. In fact, there are many reasons why gamers should give it a chance.
5. PlayStation 4 Upgrades
One of the concerns of new consoles is whether or not the previous system's games will be supported or if those games will be upgraded to match the new console's capabilities. This issue was mainly brought to light when newer models of the PS3 and PS4 didn't allow backward compatibility with the PS2. For the PS5, Sony instead treats the player to more than just the option for backward compatibility. Most PS4 games can be played on the new console, and newer titles even get a free PS5 upgrade. This promises that all of the features found on the PS5 version of the game will be available with a PS4 disc. A great example of this can be seen on Marvel's Avengers, which not only upgrades the quality of the PS4 game but also improves load times and the user interface.
4. Simplified User Interface
The PlayStation 4's release provided an updated user interface that allowed players to organize their games and streaming services to best suit them. It also helped make streaming and communicating with friends less of a hassle by dedicating sections for player parties and streaming as they play. The PlayStation 5 takes these capabilities further by taking some minor organizational hassles out of the equation. Now, players can choose between a games or media tab, separating all streaming apps from games and making the interface look less cluttered. It also offers all streaming options by pressing the PS button on the controller. Now a toolbar will popup that helps organize streaming, screenshot and communication options without stopping the game. Overall the UI offers greatly improved ease of access for its various mechanics.
3. The DualSense Controller
Similar to how the Sixaxis controller changed how gamers enjoyed PS3 games, the DualSense controller evolves the gameplay experience in ways that no one could have guessed. With haptic feedback controllers, players can feel every step, raindrop and hit across the entire body of the controller. Similar to how the Joy-Con controllers work, the haptic feedback amplifies a player's sense of touch considerably. The Adaptive triggers also offer a new world of immersion when playing games like Call of Duty. By automatically adjusting the tension in the trigger, players can shoot a gun with various degrees of resistance depending on the weapon. Coupled with standard motion and touchscreen capabilities and the DualSense controller offers a whole new layer of immersion.
2. Standout Exclusives
There's no denying that PlayStation exclusive games are a cut above the rest in terms of story, gameplay and overall quality. With the PlayStation 5, those aspects and more are doubled as their exclusives utilize every aspect of the console's capabilities. Titles like Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Spider-Man: Miles Morales don't shy away from pushing its graphics to the limit. It makes players want to play the games more but has them look forward to other titles. Astro's Playroom is the best example of this and comes standard with the PS5. The game takes advantage of everything that makes the PS5 great, and its story acts as a celebration of the console's long history. Even if a player doesn't buy a game with their console, Astro's Playroom makes a powerful case to start collecting them based on its mechanics alone.
1. Extra PS Plus Bonuses
For gamers who spend a lot of their time playing online, PS Plus is a necessity. It allows players to enjoy the full capabilities of online gaming while giving away free monthly games that range from indie titles like Concrete Genie to larger AAA titles such as Star Wars: Squadrons. But for users who have a PlayStation 5 will gain access to the PS Collection, a small gathering of some of the PS4's most iconic entries. These include Persona 5, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and God of War, all for free. Each title also has graphics that are improved for the new console and remain available to the player upon download.
The PlayStation 5 may seem too good to be true, and its rarity definitely adds to that idea. But they are real, and they offer more than enough for players who are hesitant on the purchase to reconsider. The PlayStation 5 is truly the future of gaming, and the features and exclusives that they offer will only evolve the gaming experience and continue to improve for years to come.