The PlayStation 5's official controller made a surprise appearance Tuesday, and it's not the DualShock 5. Sony has decided to name it the DualSense, which looks much like its predecessor but with quite the obvious improvements.
The DualSense controller was rumored to be compatible with PS4 and with the ability to read biometric data, but it appears those were merely hearsays. It does have the expected haptic feedback feature and adaptive triggers so players get to feel the tactile sensation of the game they're playing. It comes with a built-in microphone as well.
Like the DualShock 4, DualSense has a touchpad but the light bar's placement has changed. Charging is done via a USB-C port found atop the controller and we're hoping Sony did something about the batteries, which was a common complaint with the DS4. We're happy we don't have to deal with AA batteries though, which is what the upcoming controller for Xbox has for some reason.
As for the PS5, it seems Sony is bent on releasing its next-gen console in spite of the delays and cancelations the COVID-19 has caused in the tech industry. The company is due to release its brand new gaming machine holiday 2020 alongside the Xbox Series X from rival Microsoft.
However, the PS5 won't be entirely different from its predecessor. A report from the Financial Times stated that the upcoming console "might not represent a major departure from the PS4, and that the fundamental architecture would be similar." Lead system architect for PlayStation Mark Cerny went on to confirm what's stated in the report.
Cerny's confirmation somehow implies that a streaming-only platform isn't in the pipeline yet, at least for now. If Sony suddenly becomes streaming-friendly, however, we won't be surprised since the whole world is now enjoying faster internet speeds.
Pricing for the PS5 hasn't been released yet, but there are reports claiming that Sony is trying to keep the price down and is having a hard time doing so. The new console's cooling system is reportedly more expensive than usual, and while the company is trying not to sell at a loss, it's challenging not to put a high price tag and make it more market-friendly.
The Word is that Sony is waiting for Microsoft to reveal the price of the Xbox Series X before deciding how much the PlayStation 5 would cost. We're taking this with a grain of salt, but the move makes a lot of sense.
