Most gamers expect the PS5 (or whatever name Sony ends up calling it) will be faster than the PS4, but how much faster is still unclear. However, a new video tries to answer this question by comparing the PS5 load time against that of the PS4 Pro.
PS4 Pro vs. PS5 load time
The new video has been posted by Takashi Mochizuki of The Wall Street Journal, who claims it to be an official video comparing the PS4 Pro and PS5 load times. If true, this video gives us the first look at the potential power of Sony’s next-gen console.
The video compared the load time and performance of Marvel’s Spider-Man on the PS4 Pro and on the next-generation console. It is somewhat similar to what PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny told Wired previously when he revealed the first details about the next-generation PlayStation. He previously said Spider-Man took about 15 seconds to load on a PS4 Pro, compared to less than a second on a PS5 developer kit.
We should point out that this alleged PS5 load time video never mentions the name “PS5”; rather, it uses the words “Next Generation (Under Development)” to differentiate it from the current console.
Mochizuki also translated the audio (in Japanese) in the video, saying “to ensure PlayStation will remain as the best place to play, SIE to work on keeping and improving relationships with outside game developers.” Further, Mochizuki said the company used phrases like “anytime, anywhere, without disconnections” when describing the PlayStation’s seamless features.
Although the quality of the video is not good because it seems to have been recorded on a phone, it does reveal a crucial detail about Sony’s next-gen console. There is little doubt about the authenticity of the video as Mochizuki has a good track record when it comes to leaks from the video game industry.
What more to expect from the PS5
The video was reportedly shown during a presentation at Sony’s 2019 Corporate Strategy Meeting, where the gaming firm is said to have talked about its gaming strategy, according to Comicbook. In the presentation, Sony said the “two keywords for the future direction of PlayStation are ‘immersive’ and ‘seamless.'”
It was also revealed at the meeting that the company will achieve its vision for the PlayStation by significantly boosting the graphics rendering speed through improved computational power and use of a custom “ultra-fast” SSD. Further, Sony executives said they will add many “new features” in addition to the increased load time to boost the gaming experience. However, what those new features will be was never mentioned.
In all, the PS5 (or whatever name it will be called) will offer a gaming experience that will “greatly exceed” what is offered by the PS4 and PS4 Pro. Moreover, the Japanese company said gamers can expect a “completely transformative and immersive gaming experiences” on the next-gen console.
Sony’s gaming strategy
Executives also reportedly told attendees at the meeting that streaming will be a crucial part of the PlayStation in the future with improved Remote Play and PlayStation Now. Overall, Sony’s objective will be to offer a seamless game experience that can be achieved anywhere and anytime.
The Japanese company also reportedly said that PlayStation Now already offers an immersive gaming experience even for players who do not have a PS4. The company apparently plans to realize the PlayStation’s commitment to being “The Best Place to Play…” “by leveraging the latest computing, streaming, cloud, and 5G technologies, together with excellent content on the development of cloud solutions, including game streaming services,”according to Comicbook.
Sony also said its new deal with Microsoft for cloud-gaming solutions will play a crucial role in the future, reports Gamespot. Although Sony’s PlayStation Now streaming service already has about 700,000 subscribers, the company’s partnership with Microsoft suggests the Japanese company has bigger plans for the future.
During the meeting, Sony also reportedly discussed the PS4 sales. The Japanese company expects the current-gen console to hit 100 million units by the end of the 2019 calendar year. The company said PlayStation Network has about 94 million monthly active users.
Sony won’t be attending E3 2019, which is scheduled for next month. This means we will have to depend on leaks and rumors until Sony releases more official information or announces its next-gen console. As far as the PS5 release date, Sony confirmed on an investor call in April that it has no plans to release its next-gen PlayStation in the next 12 months.
