Playstation®5 Console – God of War™ Ragnarok Bundle. Sony ps5 console

26.05.2023 Buris Article

Playstation Console – God of War Ragnarok Bundle

Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey alongside Kratos and Atreus with the Playstation Console – God of War Ragnarök Bundle.

Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey alongside Kratos and Atreus with the Playstation Console – God of War Ragnarök Bundle.

Enjoy God of War Ragnarök with PS5 innovations including 4K and HDR visuals, DualSense wireless controller adaptive triggers and haptic feedback and Tempest 3D AudioTech.

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Account for Playstation etwork and broadband internet connection required to redeem God of War Ragnarök voucher.
Broadband Internet access, account for Playstation etwork and Playstation lus membership (sold separately) required to access online multiplayer and some features. God of War Ragnarök does not have online multiplayer functionality.
PS5 bundles will ship separately when additional items are in the order.
A signature will be required upon delivery for this product.

Customize Your Setup

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DualSense Wireless Controller. Gray Camouflage

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PULSE 3D Wireless Headset. Gray Camouflage

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DualSense Wireless Controller. Midnight Black

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PS5 Console Covers. Midnight Black

What’s in the Box

† Playstation Network account and internet required to redeem voucher.

†† PS5 console may need to be updated to the latest system software version. Internet connection required for update.

Shop PS5 Accessories

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DualSense Charging Station

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PULSE 3D Wireless Headset

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God of War Ragnarök on Playstation 5

Bask in the beautiful worlds you travel through, brought to life by stunning art direction and arresting attention to detail.

Take advantage of multidirectional 3D Audio; hear enemies approaching from any direction.¹

¹ 3D Audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB).

Get Out of Your Playstation

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4K and HDR require a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display.

3D Audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB).

Household limits may apply.

Always update your PS5 system software to the most recent version. Use of this product is subject to the System Software License Agreement (https://doc.dl.Playstation.net/doc/ps5-eula/). Internet access, an account for Playstation etwork and paid Playstation lus membership required to access online multiplayer and some features. Console recommended for ages 6 and older. A portion of the SSD is reserved for system software and other functions so the available SSD capacity may vary. 1GB=1 billion bytes. Commercial use, rental or leasing of this product is prohibited to the extent allowed by law.

Intended for sale in the United States. Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. Packaging imagery is for display purp.

4K and HDR require a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display.

3D Audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB).

Household limits may apply.

4K and HDR require a 4K and HDR compatible TV or display.

3D Audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB).

Household limits may apply.

Always update your PS5 system software to the most recent version. Use of this product is subject to the System Software License Agreement (https://doc.dl.Playstation.net/doc/ps5-eula/). Internet access, an account for Playstation etwork and paid Playstation lus membership required to access online multiplayer and some features. Console recommended for ages 6 and older. A portion of the SSD is reserved for system software and other functions so the available SSD capacity may vary. 1GB=1 billion bytes. Commercial use, rental or leasing of this product is prohibited to the extent allowed by law.

Intended for sale in the United States. Design and specifications are subject to change without notice. Packaging imagery is for display purposes only. Actual product may differ. For assistance with this product, visit Playstation.com/help. This product may be protected by one or more US granted patents. Patent information can be obtained at www.Playstation.com/patents.

©2022 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. “Playstation”, “Playstation Family Mark”, “PS5 logo”, “PlayStation 4 logo” and “Play Like Never Before” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. “Sony” and “Sony Interactive Entertainment” are registered trademarks of Sony Group Corporation. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby, Dolby Audio, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Manufactured under license from DTS, Inc. DTS, the Symbol, DTS and the Symbol together, DTS-HD, and the DTS-HD logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of DTS, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. ©2020 DTS, Inc. All rights reserved. The terms HDMI and HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

1 player. 91GB minimum. Vibration function trigger effect supported.

Online features may be terminated at any time. PS5 Enhanced features vary from title to title. Software subject to license and limited warranty (us.Playstation.com/softwarelicense). Online features require an account and are subject to Playstation etwork Terms of Service, and data collection is subject to SIE LLC Privacy Policy (Playstation.com/legal). Licensed for play on PS5 consoles in the United States.

PS5 restock update: Track on. GameStop, Target and more

PS5 restock is enjoying a period of increased availability right now. Sony Direct has been a consistent source of stock in recent weeks, and more availability is regularly going live. (You’ll need to sign into your Sony account to check stock).

If you’re looking for consoles, you can register for an invitation at Amazon for its next invite-only drop. Likewise, you can still register for Sony Direct invite-only restocks. Do note, registering at either retailer doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be invited to their invite-only drops. That said, Sony appears to have PS5 restocks on a regular basis these days with no virtual queues required.

We’re also watching for news of any PS5 restock this week. For that reason, bookmark this page and keep it regularly refreshed as we bring you the latest restock news.

Where to buy PS5: Restock links and updates

As of March 2023, PS5 restock can be found at Sony and Newegg. The latter has the console on sale, although you’ll need to checkout via Zip, a payment platform that lets you pay for your purchase via interest-free installments.

Sony God of War Ragnarök PS5 Bundle: was 559 now 503 @ Newegg The God of War Ragnarök PS5 bundle comes with a PS5 console, a digital voucher for God of War Ragnarök, and a PS5 DualSense controller. It normally costs 559, but use coupon code “ZIPPIDY10” at checkout to drop its price to 503. You’ll need to finance your purchase with Zip Payments, which lets you pay for your console via interest-free installments.

Sony God of War Ragnarök PS5 Bundle: 559 @ Sony Direct The God of War Ragnarök PS5 bundle comes with a PS5 console, a digital voucher for God of War Ragnarök, and a PS5 DualSense controller. You’ll need a PSN ID in order to order this bundle from Playstation Direct.

PS5: 499 @ Sony Direct The flagship PS5 console includes a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, the design is slightly fuller than the all-digital model. It sells for 499 and includes a PS5 DualSense controller.

PS5 Digital: 399 @ Sony Direct The PS5 Digital console lacks a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, it’s slightly thinner than its counterpart. It also sells for 399 (100 less) and includes a PS5 DualSense controller.

PS5 Disc w/ Horizon Forbidden West: for 549 @ Amazon This bundle includes the PS5 Disc console and Horizon Forbidden West. In our Horizon Forbidden West review, We called the Editor’s Choice game an excellent sequel that delivers a thrilling open-world experience to fans of the original game. You can now register to buy this bundle.

PS5 : register for invite-only drops @ Amazon Amazon is now letting shoppers register for invite-only PS5 restocks. Just click the link above, request an invite, and if accepted you’ll get an email with a link that’s valid for 72 hours. Amazon doesn’t guarantee you’ll get invited immediately, but this should increase your chances of getting a console going forward.

PS5 Digital: 399 @ Amazon (check stock) The PS5 Digital console lacks a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, it’s slightly thinner than its counterpart. It also sells for 399 (100 less) and includes a PS5 DualSense controller.

PS5 restock — latest news and rumors

Getting your hands on a PS5 restock has been significantly easier in the second half of the year, but stock levels are being stretched as we enter the holiday season. The good news is that Amazon is now accepting registrations for invite-only PS5 restocks.

Similarly, Target has confirmed a massive change to how it handles selling PS5 consoles which could offer hope to gamers still after a next-gen console. The retailer will no longer be holding restock events but will instead allow individual stores to sell stock as they get it, so make sure to check your nearest location. Whilst you’re at it, check our Target promo codes to see if we can save you a few extra dollars on those local store orders.

Amazon PS5 restock date

No one knows when Amazon will release its PS5 consoles for sale — or if it even has any. In fact, Amazon PS5 restocks are the most unpredictable. Another thing to keep in mind — Amazon restocks tend to sell out in seconds. So you’ll want to try this Amazon trick to increase your chances of getting a console. Although now that Amazon is doing invite-only restocks, your chances of scoring a console should be better.

Best Buy PS5 restock date

Best Buy used to offer PS5 restocks on Friday afternoons, but the retailer has been known to restock on Thursdays and even on Mondays. In other words, it no longer follows a set pattern. A few things to keep in mind: Best Buy’s drops always occur during the afternoon hours (between 12pm ET and 3pm ET) and they always offer the consoles at list price: 499 for the PS5 and 399 for the PS5 Digital.

Target PS5 restock date

Target PS5 restock dates have been hard to nail down. That’s because the retailer tends to drop inventory in certain regions. For instance, someone in Chicago could see PS5 inventory at their local store, whereas a New Yorker might not see any inventory whatsoever. In addition, Target tends to do early morning restocks that occur around 8 a.m. ET. That said, their last restock sold out in minutes.

PS5 restock — Track on

One of the best ways to find out when PS5 restock hits online retailers is by following the Sony account. We also recommend following accounts such as @PS5StockAlerts, @GYXdeals, @mattswider, @PS5Drop and @Wario64, which are often first to have the latest updates on availability.

Keep in mind that PS5 restock availability can also be regional and limited to select stores. Either way, make sure to keep this page bookmarked and to check the retailer listings regularly.

PS5 restock — Check for stock at these retailers

PS5 at Walmart

PS5: 499 @ Walmart The flagship PS5 console includes a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, the design is slightly fuller than the all-digital model. It sells for 499 and includes a PS5 DualSense controller. Walmart’s restocks tend to last for at least an hour. They’re out of stock right now.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Walmart The PS5 Digital console lacks a 4K UDH Blu-ray disc drive. As a result, it’s slightly thinner than its counterpart. It also sells for 399 (100 less) and includes a PS5 DualSense controller. They’re out of stock right now.

PS5 at Amazon

PS5: 499 @ Amazon Amazon sells the base PS5, but it has no stock at the time of this writing. Amazon PS5 restocks sell out in seconds.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Amazon Amazon also sells the PS5 Digital Edition, but it has also sold out of this PS5 version.

PS5 at Best Buy

PS5: 499 @ Best Buy Best Buy tends to offer restocks in the afternoon. They restock on Thursdays and Fridays, although they’ve also offered restock on a Monday. They’re sold out now, but tend to offer restocks that last an hour.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Best Buy The PS5 Digital Edition is sold out at Best Buy. However, when they do have stock, they sell it at list price.

PS5 at GameStop

PS5: 499 @ GameStop GameStop PS5 restock tends to come in bundles. The bundles offer everything from an extra controller to a 20 GameStop gift card. Make sure you check our GameStop promo codes page for discounts and coupons.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ GameStop GameStop PS5 Digital restocks also come in bundles. Oftentimes, they include everything from an extra controller to a 20 GameStop gift card. They’re out of stock now.

PS5 at Target

PS5: 499 @ Target Target PS5 restock happens in the early mornings (ET time). They’re out of stock at this moment.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ Target Target has no stock of the PS5 Digital Edition. However, when stock returns they offer it at list price.

PS5 at BH

PS5: 499 @ BH It’s been awhile since we’ve seen BH Photo PS5 restock. However, it’s a retailer we recommend checking should they offer a surprise restock.

PS5 Digital Edition: 399 @ BH The PS5 Digital Edition is also currently unavailable, but BH could offer a surprise restock so it’s worth keeping an eye on them.

PS5 at Sony Direct

PS5: 499 @ Sony Direct The Sony Direct Store hold invite only restocks as well as general public restocks. For the latter, you’ll need to form an online queue for your chance to get the console for 499. They’re out of stock at this moment.

The Sony Direct Store also offers the PS5 Digital, but it’s out of stock at this moment.

How to buy PS5: Essential tips

Multiple sources have reported an Amazon trick that improves your chances of scoring a PS5. We tested this trick four times and each time we succeeded in getting a next-gen console into our cart. (We tested it with an Xbox Series X, but there’s no reason why it shouldn’t work with a PS5). Other PS5 retailer tips to follow include:

Get prepared: Make sure you have all the right payment card details and two-factor authentication available and to hand when you find a PS5 ready to buy. Units can go so fast that if you’re fiddling around trying to find your credit card you could miss your chance to secure a PS5 order.

Select a retailer: As you can see from our list above, there are plenty of retailers to choose from, which can actually make the whole process of buying a PS5 a bit complicated. We suggest you select a couple of major retailers like Walmart and Amazon, and keep an eye on their PS5 landing pages.

Sign up for stock alerts: Plenty of retailers offer to alert you to when they have PS5 restock. We suggest you sign up to those services for the retailers that are offering them.

Find the right product page: It might sound obvious, but make sure you’re on the actual buying page for the PS5 or the PS5 Digital Edition. If you’re on a landing page, you might end up missing the moment new stock arrives.

Sign in to retailers: Make sure you sign in to any retailers you might already have an account with. This will make things a lot faster when buying a PS5 if you spot one on sale. And speed is of the essence today.

Keep refreshing and don’t give up: It can be a little demoralizing trying to find PS5 restock when everywhere looks sold out. But regularly refresh product pages to see what pops up; you might get lucky. And also keep checking back here for any PS5 stock updates.

It’s also a good idea to check a few of the subscription-based wholesaler retailers like Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Costco. You do need a paid membership to shop at these retailers, but that means reduced competition to snag a unit there. You may need to pay extra for a bundle, but it’s worth checking out these locations either way. Currently, there are no online listings for these retailers to check, but it may be worth heading to each brick-and-mortar store to try your luck at this point.

It’s been a fairly difficult process during this console generation to lock in any sort of next-gen purchase. But as we near the holidays, it’s highly likely there will be additional PS5s available for purchase at some point as Sony catches up with those looking to buy PS5s.

PS5 restock — price and discounts

The PS5 with disc costs 499, whereas the PS5 Digital Edition costs 399. Unfortunately, it’s gonna be a long time before we see any discounts on the consoles. However, we have noted some sales on PS5 accessories. Make sure to follow our PS5 deals coverage for deals on everything related to the PS5.

Where to buy PS5: Avoid the PS5 scalpers

Unfortunately, one of the main reasons for the shortage of PS5 consoles is due to scalpers. These opportunistic people have been using bots to scan retailers for PS5 stock when it becomes available and buy as many of the consoles as they can in one go.

Once they have the highly-desirable console, they will then sell them for extortionate prices, often for thousands of dollars. Business Insider reported one reseller managed to get hold of 200 PS5 consoles and managed to sell them for more than 40,000.

While this isn’t illegal, it’s not exactly the most morally sound thing to do. But at least it’s not as bad as some people who’ve been pretending to sell PS5 consoles on eBay by simply posting photos of the console and scamming people to bid for them when there was no PS5 on offer.

It might seem absurd to buy a PS5 for over 1,000, especially as its launch game lineup isn’t particularly profound. But with the coronavirus pandemic seeing more people staying at home, some Playstation fans are clearly desperate to get their hands on a new console to keep them entertained.

We advise you avoid buying from such resellers, fake or otherwise. At 499 the PS5 is still quite an expensive console and it currently doesn’t have a huge library of games. So if you can wait until later this year, you’re likely to have a lot more PS5 games to choose from and Sony should have more consoles available.

A note on PS5 restocks

PS5 restock is incredibly difficult to pin down. Despite our best efforts to bring you timely updates, Tom’s Guide can’t guarantee you’ll be able to purchase a console. Nevertheless, we are committed to bringing you up-to-the-minute information on all restocks as soon as they happen.

Sony recently declared that the PS5’s supply issues are “resolved,” and that console availability should improve shortly in Japan and Asia.

PS5 Review

The PS5 is a meaningful evolution of Sony’s achievements with its predecessor. It’s a gorgeously accessible machine with a forward-thinking plan for the current generation, whether that’s through its nuanced SSD technology or the 4K-capable graphics power. Combine this with a compelling user interface, growing selection of exclusive experiences and a general ecosystem that embraces what came before it, and the PS5 is one of the best consoles you can buy right now.

Cons

Introduction

The Playstation 5 is one of the most powerful game consoles on the market, packing cutting-edge features such as 4K support, variable refresh rate and an SSD so fast that games take a matter of seconds to load.

The only true rival to the PS5 is the Xbox Series X, which features similar specs. So when deciding between the two, it may well come down to your preference of exclusive games, as well as the various accessories and services on offer.

Sony has released several Playstation exclusives for the PS5, including God of War Ragnarok, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and Horizon Forbidden West. Sony also brags an advantage over Xbox for virtual reality fans, with the Playstation VR 2 an optional extra – albeit an expensive one.

Sony has faced some criticism for not making the most out of the PS5’s hardware due to the insistence on making exclusive games compatible for the preceding PlayStation 4. But that looks to be changing with upcoming releases such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

So is the PS5 worth buying in 2023? Or are you better off waiting for the potential PS5 Pro? Here are our thoughts.

Design and connectivity

For some time now, Sony has embraced black as the primary colour of its console designs, with the exception of the original Playstation. So much so, that it has become synonymous with the brand itself. So when the PS5 was unveiled to be a colossal tower of white plastic, many of us turned our heads in hesitation.

While the design will undoubtedly be polarising, I’m a fan of the new PS5, even if it will prove far too large for the majority of entertainment centres. The console is massive, measuring 390 x 260 x 104mm if you opt for the version with a 4K Blu-ray drive. The digital edition is slightly slimmer, but not by much, meaning you’ll still require a similar amount of space to house the console.

On the console itself you’ll see a simplistic selection of buttons and inputs. The front is home to a single USB-A 3.0 port and a USB-C port. You could make a case that Sony should have added extra USB ports here, especially if you own a Playstation VR 2 and want to charge up the two Sense controllers simultaneously.

Move downward and you’ll see the power and eject buttons, which are no less easier to tell apart than they were on the PlayStation 4. These sit embedded in a layer of plastic, which is great at attracting fingerprints – and likely scratches, if you’re trying to insert devices into the USB slot without looking.

Around the back is the power input, an Ethernet cable port and two additional USB 3.0 ports, which will be perfect for accepting charging cables or connecting dongles belonging to a Bluetooth headset or similar accessories. Three is arguably the magic number, although I did find myself having to swap things out when transferring games onto the internal SSD via an external hard drive.

If you’re not a fan of the white-and-black look, you’ll be happy to know that the white slabs of plastic on either side of the PS5 are easily removable. Not only does this grant immediate access to the console’s innards for dust removal and replacement of the NVMe SSD storage, but it also allows you to replace the white plates with a host of different designs that Sony now offers as separate accessories. This means you can return to the traditional all-black look should you wish, with other official options including a Galactic Purple colourway and grey camouflage print. There are also countless third-party faceplates competing for your cash.

It’s great to see that Sony has designed this console to be customisable, which has already led to some fun limited-edition bundles. Sadly, none of that is enough to detract from the PS5’s obtrusive size, which I still feel is likely to prove an inconvenience when trying to find a home for it in any modern setup.

The console can be placed either horizontally or vertically in the included stand, which itself feels quite cumbersome to locate without fear of scratching the polar white exterior. Compared to the Xbox Series X, the overall build quality here feels like a notable step backwards. Microsoft’s console feels like a premium device in every way, while the PS5 feels toy-like and delicate, and might struggle in terms of form factor to sit alongside existing hardware.

The machine is dominated by plastic on all sides, which makes it feel relatively cheap. It’s not egregious, but I’d expect more from a console retailing for £480. Fortunately, the lacklustre build quality doesn’t translate across to the DualSense controller (now also available in a variety of different colours), which is a beautiful piece of hardware and easily the console’s highest point. It’s what makes the PS5 feel like a true next-generation platform – but we’ll be diving into exactly how this is achieved later on.

It’s also worth mentioning that the DualSense Edge – Playstation’s long-awaited answer to the Xbox Elite Controller – is now available to buy. It has highly customisable controls and remappable inputs in addition to the existing DualSense functionality. This pro-level controller isn’t bundled in with the PS5, but it’s still a great option to have if you fancy an upgrade.

Unlike its Xbox rival, the PS5 is a little more flexible when it comes to replacing or upgrading storage. Since launch, Sony has made it possible to expand your base PS5 storage with an M.2 SSD. Once installed, you can freely move games between console storage and the M.2 SSD, and as long as it meets the specified requirements, you won’t suffer any performance downgrades. You will need to remove the PS5’s plates and unscrew a few bolts, but the whole process is pretty painless and didn’t take me more than 30 minutes (and that was being cautious).

Handily, Sony offers a video guide to the process. Granted, the Xbox expansion cards are a lot faster to set up, but if you buy a large enough SSD for your PS5, you shouldn’t have to break it open again for a while.

Specs and technology

Even when compared to the PlayStation 4 Pro, the PS5 is in another league entirely for the sheer horsepower and technical specifications contained within. It’s an incredibly powerful machine, and beyond a few notable omissions, it easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Xbox Series X. Sony has continued to push speed, accessibility and the potential for enhanced visuals and resolution above all else, and the components inside the console more than support that goal.

The PS5 is powered by an AMD Zen 2 processor comprising eight cores running at variable frequencies, with the clock speed topping out at a respectable 3.5GHz. The GPU is also an AMD custom unit, capable of reaching a maximum of 10.28 teraflops at 2.23GHz.

While the PS5 is capable of displaying jaw-dropping 4K graphics, its performance limitations have been laid bare in recent years. For example, when attempting to run The Witcher 3 in 4K with ray tracing activated, the frame rate will drop drastically, resulting in juddery performance which isn’t ideal. As a result, you’ll usually have to sacrifice either a high resolution or turn ray tracing off completely – it’s a frustrating issue that likely won’t be solved until Sony releases a PS5 Pro, which isn’t guaranteed.

Elsewhere, the PS5 includes 16GB of GDDR6 video memory with an impressive bandwidth of 448GB/s. Sony has also implemented Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1; the former is a little outdated now with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6E, but still allows for outstanding download speeds.

Through my home internet connection, I managed to install a 40GB file in roughly 30 minutes – and the console will blister through a list of downloads with absolute ease, so long as your hard drive has enough space available.

In terms of storage, the PS5 has an 825GB SSD at default, of which a small percentage will be automatically allocated to the system itself, so it can’t be used for games and applications. This leaves you with 667.2 GB to play with. It’s a commendable amount of storage, but I still find myself frequently having to delete games to make room for others. Avid players will definitely want to consider an upgrade in the months to come, but as mentioned in the previous section, this is fairly easy to do now with an M.2 SSD.

3D audio is being hailed as a major feature of the new generation, a feat achieved by the console’s Tempest Engine. This allows for hundreds of simultaneous audio sources to be registered at once, instead of being limited to 50 as in the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. Third-party games don’t always make use of the PS5’s 3D capabilities, but in exclusive first-party games, such as Returnal and Ratchet Clank: A Rift Apart, I’ve seen it used to brilliant effect. You can experience the effect with pretty much any pair of wired headphones, but Sony’s Pulse 3D Wireless headset is an affordable and sonically impressive option for the proper wireless experience.

Graphics and performance

At launch, we only had access to a handful of next-generation exclusives in the form of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Devil May Cry 5 and Bugsnax, but this list has naturally ballooned in the console’s first two years.

Games such as Ratchet Clank: Rift Apart, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarök have shown us how good PS5 games can look, even if simultaneous last-gen releases of first-party titles are possibly preventing some of them from reaching their full visual potential.

Just like the Xbox Series X, PS5 is capable of 120fps performance when paired with displays that support HDMI 2.1, although two years into the console’s life, there’s still a relatively small number of games that can reach such echelons of performance right now, and the graphical concessions are often too much for some.

At launch, the PS5 did not support variable refresh rate (VRR), which is where the refresh rate of the display on compatible HDMI 2.1 TVs and monitors dynamically syncs with the output of the console, resulting in smoother gameplay with less screen tearing. Some PS5 games also offer a high refresh rate (HRR) mode, which can push the target refresh rate of the game in question anywhere between 60Hz and 120Hz, according to what’s happening on the screen. These features probably should have been there from the off, but it’s good to see gamers being given more options.

Given its heavy FOCUS on backwards compatibility, I decided to compare the loading times of some of the platform’s biggest exclusives across PlayStation 4 Pro and PS5 Pro. The improvements are immediately pronounced, as you can see from the results below. All of the tests were done by loading into a save file directly from the main menu.

The speed at which you can load existing games is welcome, although it never reaches the heights of Xbox Series X. When comparing the PS5 against Microsoft’s console in a selection of third-party experiences, the latter came out on top every time.

It’s likely that the Series X is far better optimised when it comes to backwards compatibility, while Sony is instead focusing on next-generation experiences. For example, the process of booting up Miles Morales to reach actual gameplay is a mere 7 seconds on PS5.

Microsoft’s commitment to backwards compatibility has come home to roost, with the storage architecture and seasoned emulation doing much of the heavy lifting when ensuring that existing titles are dramatically improved on the new console.

Despite costing far less, the Xbox Series S also outperforms the PS5 when it comes to backwards compatibility, delivering loading times that are only a few seconds behind its older sibling in most instances.

A gap of 10 seconds or so in the majority of games may not sound like much, but combined with the lack of a feature such as Quick Resume, it’s significant – especially where I was using the consoles side-by-side over a number of weeks. Complaints aside, the improvements across the board compared to the PlayStation 4 Pro remain very impressive, and sole owners of the PS5 likely won’t notice much of what I’ve addressed here.

But enough about backwards compatibility; you’re likely more interested in how games developed exclusively for the PS5 will make use of the hardware. Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man: Miles Morales, to use an early example, does a phenomenal job of proving how real-time ray tracing and improved performance can alter a gaming experience for the better.

Ray tracing allows developers to implement far more realistic lighting, reflections and other graphical enhancements to their games, reflecting reality far more accurately. This is a step up from the pre-baked solutions we’ve seen up until recently. You can find a direct comparison below, and the differences are night and day.

You’ll notice that the billboards of Times Square now reflect into the glass of buildings, instead of being filled by generic images of skyscrapers. Miles Morales and all of his movements are also recreated two-fold thanks to ray tracing, offering a more nuanced vision of the superhero as he swings through Manhattan.

Upon switching to Performance mode, everything just feels more lifeless by comparison. Granted, it does earn you far more frames per second for more responsive combat and exploration, but I found the gorgeous graphics were more than worth such a sacrifice.

Some games (including both Marvel’s Spider-Man titles) have since introduced a Performance RT mode, which aims for a best of both worlds between higher refresh rates and graphical fidelity to enable ray tracing. While not quite the next-gen dream we were promised, this is about as close as you can get to it on the console right now, where available.

The resolution of reflections in Devil May Cry 5 are notably lower than those in Miles Morales. This can make some instances of the technique look blurry and obtrusive, which takes away from the impact it can have on the lighting in scenes. As you can see from the above screenshots, ray tracing fundamentally alters the mood of the scene, with light sources from the billboards and vehicles reflecting into the puddles and back onto the player.

Without ray tracing, the environment is far darker and lacking vibrancy, with harsh lights from the Piccadilly Circus-esque scene blasting onto the protagonist with little flair. In my opinion it still looks excellent, and expresses the mood of the game well, but ray tracing adds a further dimension to proceedings that simply feels more inviting.

The PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro have become infamous for how loud they are when switched on, so much so that the gaming audio is often drowned out by the abrasive fan noise emanating from the console. It made using them a nuisance, so I’m relieved to confirm that the PS5 is whisper quiet.

Even when running its most demanding experiences, it hardly makes a peep. It only makes itself heard when installing games from a disc or powering up other Blu-ray media as the 4K drive springs to life. Even here, it’s far calmer than its predecessor.

The DualSense controller is what really defines the PS5 as a true new-gen platform. It’s a meaningful evolution over the Dualshock 4, introducing new features that, if embraced properly, will no doubt characterise gaming for years to come. The introduction of adaptive triggers and a haptic feedback vibration serve to increase immersion to untold levels. Astro’s Playroom, which comes pre-installed on all consoles, is the perfect case study for the controller.

Team Asobi’s platformer delivers a masterful introduction to the DualSense controller, implementing haptic feedback and adaptive triggers into a variety of gameplay mechanics. These include springing about the environment and smashing through glass in a futuristic robot suit, or feeling the patter of rain against your little robot’s umbrella through your palms.

However, some disabled players won’t be able to make use of these features, so Sony makes turning them off super-easy. Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are used to varying degrees across all of the games I’ve tested so far, but Astro’s Playroom is unquestionably the most impressive, and a title I implore all future owners of the platform to play to completion.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition have the triggers react to the swing of a web or the slashing of swords, recreating what such actions would feel like in reality using vibration. As for battery life, the DualSense offers a decent step up from the Dualshock 4. During my testing it lasted for a maximum of 13 hours and 11 minutes before needing to be plugged in for a charge, which is a colossal improvement over its predecessor. Obviously, mileage will vary depending on what applications are being used.

User Experience

The PS5’s user interface feels like a natural expansion of what came before it. Sony has kept the tiles that defined the PlayStation 4, but has made them smaller and less intrusive, leaving room for spectacular artwork to fill the screen alongside a few menus.

It’s worth noting that the UI renders at a full 4K resolution with HDR for supported displays. As a result, everything pops with absurd levels of detail. It’s sharp, colourful and every single icon reveals elements that simply weren’t as clear before. The console’s horsepower is being put to the test before a game is even launched, and having just dropped £1000 on a new television, I’m certainly not complaining.

A single press of the Playstation button will bring up the Control Centre, which is home to all the information you’ll need. Downloads, friends, music, notifications and your own profile are present and can be accessed with ease. The Control Centre can be brought up whether you’re mid-game or on the homescreen – and it’s seamless, with no sign of lag even when playing demanding games. You can also customise the icons housed within to fit personal preferences.

In-game, relevant trophies and activities will surface based on what you’re playing. For PS5 exclusives, these will include guides, news and other nifty content that aims to make gameplay more convenient. You can also launch straight into levels from here, once again showcasing the obscene speed of the internal SSD. Sony has iterated on the PS5’s UI since launch, making it easier to explore Activity Cards more specific to your interests from the home screen, while Trophy lists are now more quickly accessible. The PS5 is definitely a machine for the completionists.

The Playstation Store on PS5 was a bit underwhelming in the console’s early days, lacking features such as deals, offers and genre categories that made its predecessor such a pleasure to browse. PS5, PlayStation 4 and VR games had their own distinct sections, but they were little more than sprawling lists that can only be sorted into a few unhelpful variations. The experience has improved somewhat since then, but it’s still not the nicest store to browse, and Sony’s attempts to make every element of the UI feel integrated, rather than separate from one another, can make navigating the store menus a bit fiddly.

Those who wish to use the PS5 as a multimedia hub can rest easy: all of the expectant bells and whistles are present and accounted for. At launch some of the confirmed media apps include Netflix, Disney Plus, Crunchyroll, Apple TV and YouTube. You can also bring up Spotify when using the majority of games and applications.

In its current state, only a select number of titles can be kept on the homescreen at once, with your latest applications cycling in and out depending on usage. Folder support for organising your library was absent at launch but has arrived in an update. Sony is now calling folders Gamelists, but the idea is the same. Themes have seemingly been abandoned in favour of the high-resolution artwork that accompanies each game. It isn’t the end of the world, but having been such a core part of the PlayStation 4, I’ve sorely missed these elements of personalisation.

PS Plus

If there’s one clear area where Playstation continues to lag behind Microsoft, it’s in its subscription offering, despite the PS Plus service being completely overhauled in 2022.

PS Plus now comes in three tiers: Essential, Extra and Premium. The first of these is PS Plus as it existed before, granting you access to monthly free games and the Playstation Plus Collection, a catalogue of 20 of the most popular PlayStation 4 titles that can be downloaded and played on the PS5 or the older hardware.

Upgrade to PS Plus Extra and you also get the Game Catalogue, a library of some 400 games that span this generation and the one before it. All of these games can be downloaded and are yours to keep for as long as you’re a PS Plus member. The top tier, PS Plus Premium, goes even further with a selection of retro Playstation titles that go as far back as the original Playstation console.

If that sounds like Sony’s answer to Xbox Game Pass, then you’re not wrong, but PS Plus’ Extra and Premium tiers are nowhere near as much of a no-brainer right now. Granted, the Game Catalogue is an absolute treasure trove of gaming (particularly if you missed out on the previous generation), but unlike Microsoft, Sony won’t be putting first-party PS5 titles on the service at launch. If you want to play them right away, you’ll still be paying upwards of £70 for the likes of God of War Ragnarök on top of your PS Plus subscription.

As for PS Plus Premium, while the prospect of being able to play PS1, PS2 and PS3 games in one place is undoubtedly appealing, the classic title library is seriously lacking right now, and PS3 games are only playable via streaming, which is really disappointing.

Again, if you’re playing catch-up on the past five years of gaming then don’t hesitate to subscribe to PS Plus Extra, but otherwise you should really take the time to browse the Game Catalogue before parting with your cash. Sony’s first-party titles are its bread and butter and the company knows it can keep selling them at full price, but so far, the (admittedly very good) cyberpunk cat simulator, Stray, is the only significant new game PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers have been able to get excited about.

Playstation VR

Aside from the game catalogues, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are so similar that it’s difficult to separate them. But one key advantage that Sony offers is support for VR. The PS5 is compatible with both the Playstation VR and Playstation VR 2 headsets.

The latter only launched in 2023, and already has a decent game library, including Horizon Call of the Mountain, Resident Evil Village, No Man’s Sky, Star Wars: Tales From The Galaxy’s Edge, Thumper and Rez Infinite.

The Playstation VR 2 offers one of the best VR experiences yet, with a stunning 4K OLED screen, immersive haptic feedback and cutting-edge eye-tracking technology. It does need to be tethered to a PS5 at all times though, which means the wire can be a real tripping hazard.

The main stumbling block here is the price: you need to buy the Playstation VR 2 headset separately at a whopping price of 549.99/£529.99. That makes the VR headset even more pricey than the PS5 console itself, and so is realistically going to have niche appeal.

But it’s nevertheless an advantage over the Xbox, especially if you’ve ever wanted to dip your toe into virtual reality, and crave a more high-end experience than what the Meta Quest 2 offers. Although we wouldn’t recommend buying the PS5 for the sole purpose of playing VR – check out our best VR headset list for more options.

Should you buy it?

You want the most powerful Playstation ever:

Features like higher frame rates and ray tracing make the PS5 feel truly new-gen (to console gamers at least), while the DualSense is an amazing controller that really enhances games when used well. If you can find one for sale, the game library is large enough now that a PS5 is an easy recommendation.

You’re still happy with the PlayStation 4 Pro:

With a few exceptions, most of the PS5’s best games can also be played on PlayStation 4, and the next-gen experience often comes with concessions anyway. PC gamers can have a superior experience, and if they’re patient, they’ll be able to play the biggest Playstation titles at their desktops eventually.

Final Thoughts

The PS5 is a beast of a console and more exciting out of the box than the Xbox Series X. The controller is amazing, and with ray tracing, games like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Ratchet Clank: Rift Apart look incredible. Support for the Playstation VR 2 also opens up more doors that aren’t available with Xbox or Nintendo.

That said, Sony’s own games often ask you to choose between fidelity and frame rate, where we originally thought we’d be able to have it all. The recent price rise is also hard to ignore, especially when the Xbox Series X gives you better value for money with Game Pass.

We hope Sony will soon leave the PlayStation 4 behind and start focusing on games that really push the PS5 to its limits. But even now, this is a fantastic console that feels like it’s just getting started.

Sony Project Q — Everything we know about the PS5 handheld console

Four years after discontinuing its last handheld gaming console, Sony is making a return with Project Q, a new 8-inch device that’s designed to stream PS5 games.

Sony first announced the new console at its Playstation Showcase on May 24; here’s everything we know about the new console so far.

Sony Project Q: Expected price and release date

Sony said that the Project Q would be released later this year, without providing a more specific time. Also unannounced: just how much Project Q will cost.

We would imagine that Sony would try and get the console out by Black Friday in November to make it the must-have present of the holiday season. Here’s hoping Sony won’t encounter PS5 restock-like issues.

Considering the Nintendo Switch costs 349 and that the Steam Deck and PS5 both cost 499, we’d wager that Sony’s new handheld will be priced somewhere between those two.

Sony Project Q: Specs

During the Playstation Showcase, Jim Ryan, the head of Playstation, said that the device would have an 8-inch HD screen, and that its buttons and features would mirror those of the DualSense wireless controller.

That’s an inch larger than the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch, but we hope that Sony will have the foresight to give its handheld an OLED display.

However, that screen looks like it could be 1080p with a 60Hz refresh rate, according to a tweet by Geoff Keighley, the host and creator of The Game Awards. While the displays of the best phones tend to target the WQHD, aimg for Full HD rather than that resolution or 4K, should mean less bandwidth is required to stream graphics to Project Q. And we’d argue 1080p is fine for an 8-inch screen.

details on Playstation Project Q:A dedicated device launching later this year that enables you to play any compatible1 game installed on your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi2. With a vibrant 8-inch LCD screen capable of up to 1080p resolution at 60fps, the device…May 24, 2023

The limited information that Sony announced confirmed some earlier rumors about the handheld device but not much else.

We’ve also seen rumors that the battery life might shock you. According to Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming, the Project Q battery life is rumored to be just three to four hours. Hopefully this either isn’t the case, or the price is in line with a handheld that can only handle remote play for the length of an NFL game.

Sony Project Q: Features

In essence, the Project Q device will let you stream games from your PS5 to the handheld console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi. That means you’ll have to own a PS5 console as well as the games in order to play them — no PS Vita redux here.

However, the ability to play PS5 games through the Cloud will help Sony better compete with the Xbox Series X, which already has Cloud gaming for its console. Given the list of titles — both current and upcoming PS5 games — that should be plenty to hold us over. However, somewhat obviously, it won’t be able to stream VR games, so bad luck for PSVR 2 owners.

Sony Project Q: Outlook

Having its own dedicated console that would allow you to play PS5 games on the go would give Sony a unique selling point over the Microsoft, which relies on third-party devices such as the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally.

However, because the Project Q will require you to stream games from your own PS5 up to the Cloud and then back down to the handheld, it could cause more buffering issues than a game that was streamed directly from a server in the Cloud.

And, you can already use Remote Play to stream your games to other handheld devices, Sony will have to make a case as to why Project Q is a better alternative than, say, an iPad paired with a DualSense controller.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more about Sony’s new device, and see if it’s worthy of being included as one of the best handheld gaming consoles.

Sources:

https://direct.Playstation.com/en-us/buy-consoles/playstation5-console-god-of-war-ragnarok-bundle
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/ps5-restock-update
https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/ps5
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/Sony-project-q-everything-we-know-about-the-ps5-handheld-console