PlayStation 5 price, release date and new exclusives revealed
During their PlayStation 5 Showcase livestream, Sony has finally revealed just how much their much-anticipated next-generation console will cost at launch.
The main, optical drive-equipped version of Sony’s next-gen console will cost just as much as Microsoft’s Xbox Series X: $499 (Php 24,000). The PlayStation5’s “Digital Edition,” on the other hand, costs more than the Xbox Series S at $399 (Php 19,200), though unlike the latter, it has the same hardware specs as the top-end PS5 model. (Read: Xbox Series X price revealed, cheaper Series S model announced)
Both versions will arrive on November 12 in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. The rest of the world, which hopefully includes the Philippines, gets it on November 19. The only exception will be China where the launch will be announced at a later date.
Pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 open tomorrow at select retailers.
Launch lineup revealed
Prior to today, the PlayStation 5’s potential launch library had been unknown thanks to delays and hazy “holiday 2020” release announcements from some companies. Now, potential buyers finally know what they can play on their shiny new console should they get it at launch.
- Astro’s Playroom
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Sackboy: A Big Little Adventure
- Fortnite
- Destruction All Stars
- Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
- Demon’s Souls remake (confirmed PS5 only, despite an error in its trailer)
- Godfall
Of these, the zany platformer Astro’s Playroom will come pre-installed on every PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Miles Morales’s availability at launch will depend on the region. The spin-off of 2018’s excellent Spider-Man game is also set to arrive, sans ray-tracing, on PlayStation 4.
The just-revealed Devil May Cry V: Special Edition is an updated, ray-tracing enabled version of last year’s stylish action game hit. This updated version also makes series antagonist Vergil a playable character.
In addition to these, PlayStation 5 players will also have day-one access to the PS Plus Collection. This is a games-on-demand service that allows players to download and play some of the PlayStation 4’s biggest games. Games confirmed to be part of the collection include Uncharted 4, Battlefield 1, Until Dawn and God of War—the latter a perfect place to start for those preparing for the sequel that Sony teased during their event.
More games coming
Beyond its launch lineup, Sony has more games lined up for the PlayStation 5. As previously mentioned, the company teased a sequel to 2018’s God of War at the end of their showcase, hinting that the game will drop sometime in 2021.
Also coming out in 2021 is VILLAGE: Resident Evil, or Resident Evil 8. The new game follows in the first-person horror footsteps of Resident Evil 7—not surprising considering that the latter is seen to have helped revive the franchise.
For those looking for something more magical, a new Harry Potter game called Hogwarts Legacy was also announced at the showcase. The game will let players live out their long-held wizarding fantasies, allowing them to enroll in Hogwarts, take classes and do homework. In addition to PlayStation 5, Hogwarts Legacy is also coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.
One new game that’s not coming to any other console other than PlayStation 5, is Final Fantasy XVI. At the showcase, Square Enix revealed that the latest game in their stories JRPG series is in development as a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
Meanwhile, the accompanying trailer hinted a return to the series’ more traditional, medieval roots, and not the modern, sci-fi settings of recent games such as Final Fantasy XV.
In addition to these, Sony also showed more footage of games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War and the sadly delayed Deathloop.
With the announcements that Sony made, it looks like the company is getting ready for a fight. Are the PlayStation 5’s launch offerings enough to keep thee Sony faithfully around for another generation, or has Microsoft made compelling arguments to draw people into their competing console? The world will find out, this November.
