Sony PlayStation 5 story: the best gaming computer of our time

Four years ago, the Japanese company released the next best-selling Sony PlayStation 5, which once again provoked crazy queues and a shortage of the most desirable gaming «computer» modernity. This console has deservedly gained its popularity, and now we will understand why.

In the final part of the series of articles about Sony PlayStation game consoles, we will talk about the latest version of the console, as well as recall the previous releases, briefly refreshing the memory of these phenomenal gaming computers that have conquered the world and the hearts of millions of fans.

Excitement, success, queues

When Sony PlayStation 5 was released, it was almost impossible to buy it in Ukraine, and huge queues formed in the US. In online stores, all copies were sold in a few seconds, as greedy buyers took away entire batches to profit from video game lovers Who remember 2020 and how the Rozetka store sold out of PS5s in a second after placing an order?

For the whole time, we have sold 65 million PS5 units, but the end of the console’s life cycle is still far away, so the 100 million mark doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Perhaps it will be possible to repeat the success of the PS4 (117 million), but it may be possible to surpass the PS3 (87 million) in 2025-2026.

Technical features and versions

Sony liked working with AMD, so the brand-new PS5 received x86 hardware based on the 8-core AMD Zen 2 APU. This was the right decision, as the components turned out to be relatively inexpensive, productive, energy efficient, and with a huge performance margin for the future.

It also played into the hands of PC gaming fans, as it was as easy to port (AAA games are always made for consoles, not PCs) video games from the console as it was in the previous generation. This, in turn, fueled the extinction of exclusive video games, which were already few and far between for Sony PlayStation.

In addition to a powerful processor (at the level of AMD Ryzen 7 2700X/3700X), Sony PlayStation 5 has 16 GB of GDDR6 unified memory and an SSD drive with a read speed of up to 5000-6000 MB/s. Also, the user can easily expand the memory with an additional SSD because the disk is not actually 1 TB, but only 825 GB. The video card is compared to the desktop equivalent AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, but the console has more memory.

This is the first console with 120 FPS mode in video games, and it also claims support for resolutions up to 8K, although in reality, not many games run in 4K, let alone with even more pixels. In any case, the performance gain after PS4 is huge, colossal, and Call of Duty fans can now compete against PC players on a level playing field (aim-assist is more effective than a keyboard and mouse), of course, if you buy a 120 Hz monitor or TV.

In 2023, the compact PlayStation 5 Slim appeared on the market, which became 24% lighter, lower, and thinner. It looks like a younger sister, and it is clear that the designers were inspired by previous Slim modifications in older consoles. It appears that the release of Fat models on release, and Slim in a few years becomes a tradition for Sony.

This year, an updated Sony PlayStation 5 Pro, but its release was somewhat disappointing for fans, as the top-of-the-line version was only slightly faster than the original. In some games, the difference is so minuscule that it is literally invisible to the naked eye, or without an FPS meter. Perhaps in the newer games of 2025-2026, PS5 Pro owners will finally feel the benefits of the top console.

Users got just a good minor improvement, but it’s not the same leap as the previous generation After the PS4 > PS4 Pro upgrade, it all looks like some kind of mockery, and for a lot of money. Maybe now it’s better to buy a gaming computer for $700?

New DualSense and VR2 gamepad

Controller DualSense is significantly different from its predecessor DualShock 4 and offers many new features that provide a deep immersion in the gameplay. At least that’s what the developer claims. In practice, players have received a great upgrade to an already successful gamepad:

1. Haptic Feedback:
   • DualSense uses the latest haptic feedback technology that replaces traditional vibration motors. The controller now uses two linear actuators to create more detailed and accurate vibrations.
   • The player can feel the different textures of the surfaces on which the character moves. For example, walking on sand, snow, or stones will feel different, which adds to the realism of the gameplay.
   • The technology allows you to feel such in-game details as raindrops or whistling balls.
2. Adaptive Triggers:
   • Triggers L2 and R2 have the ability to change their sensitivity and resistance depending on game situations.
   • For example, when you draw a bow, you’ll feel the trigger’s increasing resistance, which simulates the tension of a bowstring. In shooters, you can feel the difference between different types of weapons — from light small arms to heavy machine guns.
   • This technology allows for a better sense of interaction with the environment and gives players the opportunity to experience the gameplay physically.
3. Microphone and speaker:
   • DualSense has a built-in microphone that allows you to communicate with friends without the need for a headset. This is very convenient for a quick voice chat.
   • The built-in speaker has improved sound quality. It is used in games to create additional sound effects that complement the main audio. For example, you can hear the sounds of reloading weapons or signals from characters.
4. Tactile sensors and accelerometer:
   • The controller is equipped with a gyroscope and accelerometer that can recognize tilts and movements. This adds new control options, especially in games that require tilting (for example, in driving simulators or flight simulators, but not in Microsoft Flight Simulator).
   • Motion sensors allow you to use a gamepad as an additional control, which is especially noticeable in VR games.
5. Create button:
   • DualSense has replaced the button Share with the new button Create. It expands the possibilities of content creation, allowing players to quickly record videos, take screenshots, and broadcast gameplay.
   • The PlayStation 5 interface provides easy access to editing and publishing content to social media platforms.
6. Design and ergonomics:
   • The DualSense gamepad has a better design with smooth lines and larger dimensions than the DualShock 4, which provides a comfortable grip, especially for long gaming sessions.
   • The surface of the controller has a microtexture consisting of small PlayStation symbols (cross, circle, square, triangle). This is not only visually interesting, but also improves the grip, which becomes important during intense online matches in Call of Duty.
7. Battery and connections:
   • The controller is equipped with a built-in 1560 mAh battery, which is 50% larger than the DualShock 4. This allows you to play up to 8-12 hours on a single charge (depending on the intensity of the use of adaptive triggers and haptic feedback).
   • Charging is carried out via USB-Cand every home has such a cable, so there will be no problems with connection.
8. Backlighting and indication:
   • DualSense has an LED bar that is now located around the touchpad, making it easy to see the status of the controller (e.g. player number or charge level).
   • The backlight changes color depending on the situation in the game, which adds interactivity.

Parameter / gamepad	DualShock 4	DualSense
Tactile feedback	Vibration motors	Haptic Feedback
Adaptive triggers	No	Є
Microphone	No	Built-in
Charging	Micro-USB	USB-C
Battery capacity	~1000 mAh	1560 mAh
Touch panel	Yes	Yes (improved)
Additional key	Share	Create

To put it in the most pathetic way possible, DualSense — is not just an evolution of DualShock 4, but a true revolution in control. Thanks to well-implemented innovations such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, it provides a unique gaming experience that makes games even more immersive. Fans of the keyboard + mouse combination can only dream of something like this. In addition, DualSence works perfectly with PCs and is supported by almost all modern Windows games, but some without proprietary features.

Sony is actively developing the virtual reality (VR) business within the PlayStation 5. The company has updated PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2)which was a huge step after the success of the original PS VR, which was released for PlayStation 4 in 2016. PS VR2 offers significantly better performance and functionality, allowing you to fully unlock the potential of virtual reality.

Main features of the PlayStation VR2

1. High-definition displays:
   • PS VR2 is equipped with OLED screens with a resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye for a total resolution of 4K.
   • The update frequency is 90 Hz or 120 Hz which provides smooth and comfortable gameplay without blurring.
2. Field of view:
   • Extended field of view to 110 degrees is close to what a person sees and surpasses the previous version of PS VR (100 degrees). This allows you to better immerse yourself in the gameplay, making the image panoramic.
3. Eye Tracking function:
   • PS VR2 supports eye tracking technology, which allows the console to track where the user is looking. This opens up opportunities for implementing dynamic foveal rendering (Dynamic Foveated Rendering), which increases the image quality at the exact point where the eye is directed, reducing the load on the system and simultaneously removing the effect of artificiality;
4. Haptic Feedback technology:
   • Built-in haptic motors in the headset allow players to feel physical effects such as jolts, bumps, or even the effect of walking through different textures. This enhances the immersive VR experience, making it more realistic.
5. Improved motion tracking (Inside-Out Tracking):
   • PS VR2 uses inside-out tracking, which means built-in cameras on the headset itself to track the movements of the player and controllers. This eliminates the need for external cameras, as was the case with the previous PS VR.
   • The technology allows you to track your position in space with high accuracy, reducing latency and improving control accuracy. This is exactly what the original PS VR system lacked.
6. Improved PS VR2 Sense controllers:
   • The new controllers have a design similar to the DualSense gamepad and support adaptive triggers and tactile feedback. They are equipped with special sensors that allow you to detect the position of your fingers without pressing buttons, making interaction with the game world more natural.
7. Single connection cable:
   • Unlike the previous version of PS VR, which required multiple cables and an external unit, PS VR2 connects to the PS5 via a single USB-C cable, which greatly simplifies the setup process.

Parameter / VR	PS VR	PS VR2
Resolution	960 x 1080 pixels per eye	2000 x 2040 pixels per eye
Display	OLED	OLED with 4K HDR support
Update frequency	90 Hz	90/120 Hz
Field of view	100 degrees	110 degrees
Trekking	External camera	Inside-Out Tracking
Eye tracking	No	Yes (Eye Tracking)
Tactile feedback	No	Yes (in the headset and controllers)
Connection	HDMI + separate unit	USB-C

PlayStation VR2 has set a new, even higher standard in the world of console virtual reality with its innovative technology and improved performance of the console itself. With features such as eye tracking, adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback, players can enjoy a deeper and more immersive VR experience. This makes the PS VR2 the best virtual reality system on the market, at least in terms of price/performance ratio.

Defeating PCs, again and again

In technical terms, the Sony PlayStation 5 was no longer the flagship and most productive gaming device at its release, as PS3 (a $500 console that trampled primitive and weak 2006 PCs for $2000 into the ground). Now you can buy a gaming computer with similar performance is only slightly pricier, than the PS5, but there are some important nuances related to optimization or planned obsolescence, if you want to believe in conspiracy theories.

It’s no secret that consoles are slowly becoming obsolete, and the closer to the end of the console’s life cycle, the more its superiority over computers is felt. That is, a similar PC performs well at the release, but after 5-6 years, the console is far behind. Let’s consider one vivid example with a game Call of Duty Warzone. The last few updates have severely degraded performance on top-end PCs.

For example, one of the best game processors of our time AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (only Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D are faster in games) currently shows only 115-130 FPS in the new season of Warzone, although recently this value was 200-230+ FPS. In fact, in the first season of Warzone, the Intel Core i7-10700K was capable of 190-200 FPS, and now it can’t even hold the 60-80 FPS mark.

On Sony PlayStation 5 in this game we always get 100-120 FPS, just like on the most powerful PCs of today. One crooked update for the Windows version of the game can break everything and make owners of expensive system units shed tears of disappointment that their $3000 PC is no faster than a $500 console. That’s because the game is developed only for consoles, and then they try to adapt the changes to PCs without spending much time on optimization, forgetting about the hardware from several years ago.

At the same time, the PS5 has a processor performance on par with the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X, which is a completely different category. Nevertheless, the game runs as smoothly now as it did on the Warzone release. That is, similar computer hardware in 2020 is no longer as relevant for video games as the Japanese console Time passes, a lot of time, and PCs turn into vinegar, and PS5 (like all other PS) becomes a quality wine.

Despite the fact that modern PCs are much faster than PS5, they still cannot compete with the console in terms of sales. This is due to convenience: one account, a primitive interface that even a three-year-old can understand, two buttons, and you’re playing your favorite game — on PC a similar process is somewhat more complicated. The answer of 65 million gamers is simple — it is more convenient!

By the way, the premature aging of computer equipment is well illustrated by the following market value. At the beginning of sales, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor was priced at $299, and now it costs just over $100. That is, for The processor has depreciated three times in four years. The Sony Playstation 5 game console keeps a stable price tag throughout its life cycle, as it does not lose its relevance, unlike computer components.

In the age of inexpensive, profitable, productive, and cool PCs, Sony’s PlayStation 5 is selling well thanks to its ease of use and low entry threshold. PS5 is convenient, pleasant, easy, comfortable. First of all, it is the experience of playing the game, not the process of updating drivers, it is the emotions of gameplay, not the suffering from typical Windows problems.

As the owner of a system unit with AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, I’ll tell you a few facts about PCs and PS5 in a question-and-answer format from my perspective:

• Is such a PC more productive than a PS5? Of course, but in practice, it’s not much use;
• Is there a noticeable difference in graphics on a 4K TV? In most games, the difference is minimal and almost unnoticeable;
• What’s better for the average gamer, PC or PS5? PS5 for AAA games, PC for casual games;
• Does it make sense to buy a PS5 Pro? Yes, but only if you don’t have an original PS5;
• How to play GTA VI on PC? On YouTube, as an option, or two to three years after the release;
• What to choose for gaming in 2024-2025? A stationary or portable console from any manufacturer, or as a last resort, a laptop with RTX 4060;

Conclusions and memories

Next year, the original Sony PlayStation 1 celebrates its 30th anniversary. This is a big anniversary, not only for the company itself, but also for the community of gamers around the world. It is thanks to the success of the PS1 that we have the video game world we have today, not another. In fact, Sony’s first console made a real revolution by taking full advantage of the capabilities of CDs.

Sony PlayStation 1 story: how the CD defeated Nintendo and changed the global video game industry

Developers loved this console for its excellent hardware balance and support for 660 MB CDs. For the first time, games became big, with high-quality music, cutscenes, a long history, and high-quality gameplay. In addition to its gaming features, Sony PlayStation 1 was the best multimedia device of 1995.

At a time when high-quality CD media players cost a fortune and computers used 1.44 MB floppy disks, the Sony PlayStation 1 looked like a real multimedia monster for a mere penny. Not surprisingly, not only gamers liked the console, as it became the main media center for 102 million users around the world.

Five years later, the Sony PlayStation 2 appeared with even better movie playback capabilities. The presence of a DVD drive made the PS2 a real hit, and no one has yet managed to break the record (155 million units).

The story of Sony PlayStation 2: the world’s most popular game console that set new standards for video games

The console turned out to be so successful that thousands of games were released throughout its life cycle until 2014! Surprisingly, the Sony PlayStation 2, which was released in 2000, could play FIFA 2014, which no other game console or computer could boast of.

No less a phenomenon was the Sony PlayStation 3, which received not just strong hardware, but the best of its kind. It was an unrivaled supercomputer that the Japanese company was forced to sell at a loss for $500 (the cost was a hundred times higher).

The story of Sony PlayStation 3: a revolution for consoles, a defeat for PCs

The eight-threaded POWER processor brought all the most powerful PCs of the time to their knees (the ridiculous Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, and AMD Phenom X2, X3, X4 CPUs were too weak), leaving them no chance to compete, although Microsoft still took a large part of the market with the successful Xbox 360, which was on sale faster.

The transition from the unique but unfortunately dying POWER architecture was inevitable. In 2013, the Sony PlayStation 4 with x86 hardware from AMD started a new era of video games that is still going on today. It was the beginning of the end of exclusive games, as it became much easier to port AAA projects from consoles to PCs.

Sony PlayStation 4 history: the beginning of the end of the era of exclusives

Although the Sony PlayStation 4 was no longer surprising with its performance at launch, it has stood the test of time. To this day, this console remains a relevant and convenient device for virtual entertainment, although gaming PCs from 2013 have long been rotting in landfills.

Sony PlayStation 5 has taken over the baton from its predecessor and is firmly holding the leadership position. Despite serious competition from Microsoft’s Xbox Series and the influx of portable consoles from Valve, Asus, Acer, MSI, and Lenovo, despite the development of mobile video games and the rapid growth of laptop performance, the PS5 is selling well.

Each time, Sony PlayStations become better, more advanced, and never cease to amaze, although it’s not easy to surprise a modern player. No matter how the video game industry moves forward, the Sony PlayStation 5 and all its predecessors have built a solid foundation. Sony PlayStation is the sacred source of modern video games. Sony PlayStation is the Grail of video games. Sony PlayStation is games.