PlayStation 5: UK price, release date and PS5 launch games confirmed
Next-generation console will be available in two models
Sony has finally revealed the long-awaited details of its new PlayStation 5 (PS5) console.
In a virtual “PS5 Showcase” event, Sony confirmed the launch date and price for the next-generation models as well as many new games.
After previously announcing some of the new titles, the Japanese tech giant is now gearing up for the PS5’s global launch in November.
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Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said: “This is truly an exciting time for all of us at PlayStation.
“Over the past few months, we’ve been able to show you a glimpse of the stunning new games being created for PlayStation 5, taking advantage of the console’s unique capabilities to deliver lightning-fast loading, heightened immersion, and a whole new generation of experiences. And we’re excited that the time for you to experience these brave new adventures is almost here.”
Here we take a look at what Sony had to say about the PS5: the consoles, games and accessories.
UK price and release date
PS5 will be released in the UK on 19 November. Two versions of the console will be available: the PS5 Digital Edition (no disk tray) costs £359.99 and the PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive costs £449.99.
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Pre-orders for the PS5 consoles have started. But according to Digital Spy it’s already a “bit of a mess” and a “battle” for gamers to get orders confirmed with many online retailers “struggling to cope with the sheer volume and are running out of stock”.
On the two versions of the PS5, Ryan said: “We’re pleased to provide choice to gamers with two PS5 console options at launch, depending on if you want a digital-only experience or prefer disc-based gaming. Whichever PS5 you choose, you’ll enjoy the same breathtaking, next-gen gaming experiences.
“Both PS5 models use the same custom processor with integrated CPU and GPU for high-fidelity visuals, including 4K graphics and ray-tracing support, as well as the same ultra-high-speed SSD with integrated I/O for lightning-fast loading.
“PS5’s 3D audio and the DualSense Wireless Controller will also provide the same heightened sense of immersion on all PS5s.”
PS5 launch games
Keith Lee, CEO of Counterplay Games, had previously confirmed that the PS5 will welcome a new genre: the looter-slasher.
Announcing Godfall, Lee said: “Our game is uniquely one-part gear driven and one-part player-skill driven. Godfall retains the desire for offense-oriented, mastery-driven combat, rewarding you with head-turning, powerful loot that then inspires your next set of character builds.
“Godfall’s third-person melee combat is fluid, dynamic and interactive, embracing offense over defense. While many games these days create one-off cat-and-mouse challenges for players, we want to broaden combat encounters with enduring replayability.
“In Godfall you can expect satisfying one-against-many enemy encounters along with challenging head-to-head boss fights.”
Other new launch games coming to PS5 include:
Astro’s Playroom (Japan Studio) Demon’s Souls (Bluepoint Games / Japan Studio) Destruction All Stars (Lucid Games / XDEV) Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games) Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition (Insomniac Games) Sackboy A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital / XDEV) Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (Capcom) Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix) Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach (Steel Wool Studios and ScottGames) Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games) New God of War title (Santa Monica Studio)
DualSense wireless controller
In early April, Sony released the first images of the new DualSense wireless game controller for PS5.
Hideaki Nishino, SVP of platform planning and management, wrote in a blog: “We wanted everyone in the PlayStation community to get a first look at the DualSense wireless controller, and hear our vision for how the new controller will captivate more of your senses as you interact with the virtual worlds in PS5 games.
“The features of DualSense, along with PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech, will deliver a new feeling of immersion to players.
“We decided to keep much of what gamers love about DualShock 4 intact, while also adding new functionality and refining the design. Based on our discussions with developers, we concluded that the sense of touch within gameplay, much like audio, hasn’t been a big focus for many games.
“We had a great opportunity with PS5 to innovate by offering game creators the ability to explore how they can heighten that feeling of immersion through our new controller.
“This is why we adopted haptic feedback, which adds a variety of powerful sensations you’ll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud.
“We also incorporated adaptive triggers into the L2 and R2 buttons of DualSense so you can truly feel the tension of your actions, like when drawing a bow to shoot an arrow.”
Other accessories
The PS5 will launch in November with the DualSense Wireless Controller and a range of new accessories.
DualSense Wireless Controller: £59.99 DualSense Charging Station: £24.99 HD Camera: £49.99 Media remote: £24.99 PULSE 3D wireless headset: £89.99
Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.