PlayStation 5
| PlayStation 5 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| Type | Home video game console |
| Developer | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Manufacturer | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Announcement Date | April 2019 |
| Release Date | November 12, 2020 (initial markets); November 19, 2020 (worldwide) |
| Price | US$499.99 (Standard Edition) / US$399.99 (Digital Edition) at launch |
| Website | playstation.com/ps5 |
| Predecessor | PlayStation 4 |
| System | |
| Operating System | PlayStation 5 system software |
| CPU | Custom AMD Zen 2 x86-64, 8 cores at up to 3.5 GHz (variable frequency) |
| GPU | Custom AMD RDNA 2, 36 compute units at up to 2.23 GHz, 10.28 TFLOPS |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 825 GB custom NVMe SSD |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6 (448 GB/s bandwidth) |
| Display | |
| Image | |
| Optics | |
| Tracking | |
| Audio | |
| Connectivity | |
| Device | |
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The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed and manufactured by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released on November 12, 2020 in a group of initial markets (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea) and expanded to most other regions on November 19, 2020. [1] It is the successor to the PlayStation 4 and forms part of the ninth generation of video game consoles. [1]
On a Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality encyclopedia, the PlayStation 5 is significant chiefly as a Console-Powered VR host platform. It is the required host console for the PlayStation VR2 (PS VR2) headset, and it is the only console on which the original PlayStation VR (PSVR) can be used following the discontinuation of the PlayStation 4. The PS5's custom AMD silicon, high memory bandwidth, and solid-state storage supply the rendering power and data throughput that the PS VR2's high-resolution displays, eye tracking, and foveated rendering depend on. [2]
Hardware overview
The PlayStation 5 is built around a single custom system-on-chip (SoC) designed by Sony Interactive Entertainment together with AMD. The CPU is an eight-core processor based on AMD's Zen 2 microarchitecture running at a variable frequency of up to 3.5 GHz. The integrated GPU uses AMD's RDNA 2 architecture, with 36 compute units clocked at a variable frequency up to 2.23 GHz for a peak throughput of 10.28 teraflops. [1] The console pairs this with 16 GB of GDDR6 unified memory on a 256-bit bus delivering up to 448 GB/s of bandwidth, and a custom 825 GB NVMe solid-state drive whose high sustained read speeds were a central design goal for reducing load times and streaming game assets. [1]
These capabilities matter for VR because rendering two high-resolution views at a high refresh rate is far more demanding than rendering a single flat image. The same hardware powers the PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech engine for spatial audio, which the PS VR2 uses for positional sound. [2]
Core specifications
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Custom AMD x86-64 Zen 2, 8 cores / 16 threads, up to 3.5 GHz (variable frequency)[1] |
| GPU | Custom AMD RDNA 2, 36 compute units, up to 2.23 GHz, 10.28 TFLOPS[1] |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6, 256-bit bus, up to 448 GB/s[1] |
| Storage | Custom 825 GB NVMe SSD (expandable via M.2 slot)[1] |
| Optical drive | 4K UHD Blu-ray (Standard Edition; absent on Digital Edition)[1] |
| Operating system | PlayStation 5 system software[1] |
| Predecessor | PlayStation 4[1] |
Role as a VR platform
Host for the PlayStation VR2
The PlayStation VR2 is a virtual reality headset released on February 22, 2023 that is designed exclusively for the PlayStation 5. [2] Sony states plainly that "PS VR2 is designed for the PS5 console, and will not work with the PS4 console." [2] The headset connects to the console with a single USB Type-C cable, roughly 4.5 m (14.7 ft) long, plugged into the USB-C port on the front of the PS5; this replaces the breakout box and multiple cables that the original PSVR required. [2] Because the PS VR2 has no onboard processor, all rendering, tracking computation, and audio are performed by the PS5 itself.
The PS5 hardware directly enables several of the PS VR2's defining features:
- Eye-tracked foveated rendering. Infrared cameras inside the headset track the user's gaze, and the PS5 renders the area the user is looking at in full detail while reducing detail in the periphery. Sony describes this as "adjusting resolutions to pinpoint and enhance whatever you're focusing on," which lets the console deliver higher effective fidelity than a uniform render of the same scene. [2]
- HDR OLED display. The PS VR2 uses an internal HDR OLED display supporting 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye, driven by the PS5's graphics pipeline. [2]
- Sense controller haptics and adaptive triggers. The Sense controllers carry the same adaptive trigger and haptic feedback technology as the PS5's DualSense controller, adding variable trigger tension and nuanced vibration; the headset also contains its own vibration motor. [2]
Support for the original PlayStation VR
The PlayStation 5 also runs the original PlayStation VR, the PS4-era headset first released in 2016. Doing so requires a free PlayStation Camera adapter that Sony supplied to PSVR owners. The original PSVR is positionally tracked by the PS4 PlayStation Camera, whose proprietary connector does not fit the PS5; the adapter provides the correct port and connects to a USB port on the console. The PS5's own HD Camera accessory is not compatible with the original PSVR. [3] Sony announced that this free adapter program would end in November 2024, after which the adapter was no longer distributed at no cost. [4]
The two VR systems remain separate platforms on the PS5. The PS VR2 and the original PSVR have distinct, non-interchangeable game libraries: Sony states that "PS VR games are not compatible with PS VR2," citing the move to new tracking, controllers, and features such as eye tracking. [2] Conversely, PS VR2 software does not run on the original headset. A PS5 owner can use either headset (each with its own hardware and games), but a given VR title targets one system or the other unless a developer specifically ships separate versions.
Model variants
Sony has released several hardware revisions of the PlayStation 5. All of them function as PS VR2 hosts.
| Model | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | November 12, 2020 | Includes 4K UHD Blu-ray drive; launched at US$499.99.[1] |
| Digital Edition | November 12, 2020 | No optical disc drive; launched at US$399.99.[1] |
| PlayStation 5 (2023 redesign) | November 2023 | Smaller, lighter "slim" chassis with a detachable disc drive option; replaced the original models.[1] |
| PlayStation 5 Pro | November 7, 2024 | Higher-performance model with a larger, faster GPU and a 2 TB SSD; launched at US$699.99.[1][5] |
The PlayStation 5 Pro is of particular interest for VR. Its more powerful GPU is compatible with the PS VR2, and a number of PS VR2 titles received Pro-specific enhancements such as higher dynamic resolution and improved foveated rendering when running on the Pro hardware. [6]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 PlayStation 5. Wikipedia. Accessed June 23, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 PlayStation VR2: The ultimate FAQ. PlayStation.Blog. Published February 6, 2023. Accessed June 23, 2026.
- ↑ PSVR Owners Can Now Request a Free Camera Adapter for PS5 Compatibility. Road to VR. Accessed June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Sony's free PlayStation VR for PS5 adapter is being discontinued in two weeks. TechRadar. Accessed June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Sony PlayStation 5 Pro launch: Price, specs, release date. CNBC. Published September 10, 2024. Accessed June 23, 2026.
- ↑ Every PlayStation VR2 Game With PS5 Pro Enhancements. UploadVR. Accessed June 23, 2026.