We may not know the release date or the price yet, but we were reminded today that the launch of the PlayStation 5 is getting closer because Sony just released its first ad for the next-gen console.
As you'd expect with a few months still to go before the launch, Sony isn't getting too specific just yet. Instead, attempting to quickly highlight some of what it hopes will be generation-defining features. And this ad, titled "PlayStation 5 - Play Has No Limits" focuses on two of those features—the DualSense controller and promised 3D audio experience. The video description on YouTube states, "Welcome to a new world of immersion. Discover haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio on PS5. PLAY HAS NO LIMITS."
The DualSense controller was a surprise when first revealed. As well as sporting a quite distinct look compared to Sony's previous controllers, it will offer haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as having a built-in microphone. Haptic feedback is an upgrade to rumble motors and Sony has used dual actuators to create dynamic vibrations as a way of making us "feel" what's happening through our hands. Adaptive triggers on the other hand allow for the feeling of tension and force applied to actions in a game, with the perfect example being pulling back a bowstring, or braking in a driving game.
It's easy to imagine how good the haptic feedback and triggers could be, but the 3D audio is much more of an unknown. As the ad demonstrates, Sony is going to market the feature heavily, and hopefully the end result is a 3D sound experience on a par with Dolby Atmos, regardless of whether we're playing wearing headphones or relying on a home theater surround sound system or soundbar.
Expect an ad battle to start as we head into September. Both Microsoft and Sony will be keen to remind us all regularly how great their new consoles are, why you should buy one over the other, and eventually they may even flash up a release date and price at the end.
Further Reading
- Xbox Series X May Cost More Than You Think
- Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Explains Why the PlayStation 5 Is So Big
- Microsoft's Cheaper Xbox Series S Console Confirmed by Controller Packaging
- Sony Has Sold Over 112M PS4 Consoles
- More in Gaming Systems