Excited about the PlayStation 5? Then you’ve come to the right place! Officially announced by PlayStation, the wait for the PS5 is almost over. We’ve got all the latest PS5 news and updates. Find out all there is to know about the new PS5 console including specs and the latest release date.

What is the release date for the PS5?

While PlayStation hasn’t given us a concrete date yet, the company recently confirmed – with accompanying fanfare – that the PS5 will be launched in time for Christmas 2020.

And in addition to the PS5 console itself, PlayStation has also given us a sneak peek of their first confirmed next-gen game, Godfall. We can certainly expect to see more from PlayStation in the coming month to showcase the console's abilities, but for now, check out the Godfall teaser trailer…

Will there be PS5 backwards compatibility?

There was a time when buying a new console meant you had to ditch your old games – especially when there was a change of format. Well, the good news is that you’ll still be able to play your old PS4 faves on the shiny new PS5 console!

“Because it’s based in part on the PS4’s architecture, it will also be backwards-compatible with games for that console” – Wired

So, whether it’s God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man or Bloodborne, the PS5 be able to play PS4 games. Woohoo! That means you can still buy PS4 games safe in the knowledge that they’ll be good to go on your new machine.

Support for ray tracing

In simple terms, ray tracing is a graphics rendering technique that enables game developers to create ultra-realistic lighting effects. It’s actually been around for a while in the animated movie industry, where movie makers have the luxury of taking the time to create the perfect frame.

With gaming, everything has to happen in real-time and until now, it’s been processing power holding this technology back. With confirmation that the PS5 will support ray tracing, we can expect some seriously realistic-looking games.

Will the PS5 have a new controller?

Yes! Sony has confirmed that we can expect a brand-new controller with the PS5 – which boasts adaptive triggers – which will respond differently depending on how much you squeeze the L2 or R2 buttons.

The other big news is that rumble in the controllers will be replaced by haptic feedback – which is common in phones. According to Sony’s Jim Ryan:

“With haptics, you truly feel a broader range of feedback, so crashing into a wall in a race car feels much different than making a tackle on the football field.”

Haptics will also help to create different sensations through the controller when travelling through various environments. So, running around a football pitch will deliver a very different feel than crawling through a dark, damp cavern.

With these exciting new features, we guess they won’t be abandoning the iconic △, O, X, and ▢ buttons any time soon. Watch this space!

A solid-state drive (SSD) for ultra-fast load times

The announcement that the PS5 will come with an SSD is welcome news to anyone familiar with that long wait for the next scene to load. It also means the PS5 will have the power to render scenes much faster, making for a more seamless gaming experience.

Is VR coming to PS5?

Good news for you VR fans, Sony has confirmed that PlayStation VR will be compatible with the next-gen console. With a powerful new machine, this opens up exciting new possibilities for PS5’s VR capabilities!

Excited? Register your interest and stay up to date with the latest PS5 news