Sony's latest PS5 details: the Digital Foundry analysis

It's official. Sony's 'next generation console' is now officially named PlayStation 5, it's coming at the tail-end of 2020, it has a fascinating series of controller upgrades vs the established Dual Shock 4 - and if it wasn't already clear, the bespoke solid-state storage solution is going to be a game-changer. These are the key takeaways from the latest Wired magazine exclusive, which tells us much about the new system while at the same time keeping the vast majority of its technological secrets under wraps. Look closer though and there's plenty of 'buried treasure' - small facts and asides that put a lot of the recent leaks into context.

In lieu of specs, we get to understand a little more of Sony's next generation vision. Immersion seems to be the key theme surrounding the new controller for PlayStation 5, which we're told looks very similar to the existing Dual Shock 4, albeit with an 'extra hole' which Wired author, Peter Rubin, believes may be a microphone for a voice activated assistant. Mark Cerny shut down that particular avenue of investigation but what was prepared to share was certainly interesting - and it's all about receiving more feedback from the game via your interaction with the controller.

There's a description of how the user can feel more closely connected with in-game environments via their 'feel', delivered with Sony's take on the precision HD rumble feature built into Switch's Joy-Cons. And then there's the evolution of the triggers, which can now provide varying levels of resistance, likened to the increasing tension offered by a bow as you pull the drawstring. Interesting stuff, but also welcome are a couple of quality of life improvements - a shift to USB-C for wired connectivity and charging, along with a larger capacity battery. At the same time we're told that the new pad remains lighter than an Xbox pad (with batteries inserted).

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