PS5 vs Xbox Series X: what have we learned about the main differences?

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: what have we learned about the main differences?
Comparing the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, there is a lot of information to digest. With the start of the next generation, we know more than ever about the design, specifications and game libraries of Sony and the next major releases of Microsoft. But there are still gaps in our knowledge that need to be filled: exact release dates and pricing are two big ones. Fortunately, new details are released all the time and every day we have a much clearer picture of what the future holds for PlayStation and Xbox. After waiting a long time for Sony to make their big reveal, we now know what the PS5 and Xbox Series X will look like and our knowledge of the two consoles has become quite stable again. Sony's design for the PS5 is striking and somewhat divisive, though it may not be as grand as it initially seemed. It has the futuristic two-color design of the DualSense PS5 controller and can be positioned both vertically and horizontally. There's also a choice between a console with a 4K Blu-Ray player and a completely disc-free digital edition for those who prefer the next-gen idea of ​​downloading all their PS5 games. As for the specs, PS5 system architect Mark Cerny used a live stream to take us under the hood of the console, detailing features like its SSD drive and backwards compatibility. What's been shown is impressive, even if it's not as powerful on paper as the next-gen Xbox console. Regarding the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has been a bit more candid and we know the console's design (less out-of-the-box and more just the box), its specs, and some of the planned Series X games for a bit. We also got the latest information on a number of features like Smart Delivery, which will allow you to play the "best possible version" of a game you bought on Xbox One, without having to buy it again. Thanks to some live streaming, we've now seen next-gen games on both consoles, but while Sony has talked about prioritizing next-gen exclusives, Microsoft has focused on intergenerational support. While we don't have an exact release date for Xbox Series X and PS5 yet, we anticipate that they won't be on shelves far away. The two are aiming for a Holiday 2020 release, which means they'll be meeting very soon. The dawn of the new generation will be a watershed moment for Sony and Microsoft, aiming to take the crown from the new console and convince gamers to switch from their old Xbox One and PS4 consoles. But which next-gen console will have the upper hand? It's likely a close call, but to help keep things straight, we've put together this Xbox Series X vs PS5 guide. Below, we take a look at the two next-gen consoles under a microscope, examining their essential similarities and differences to see what they can tell us about the future of console gaming.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: highlights

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

Image Credit: Sony

Xbox Series X vs PS5: specs so far

Though it was Sony that made the first move, giving out the first concrete details about its PS5 in April 2019, Microsoft's E3 2019 showcase showed that the two companies seemed to be singing from the same hymn sheet with the specs for their new machines. The PlayStation 5 will run on a custom version of the third-generation AMD Ryzen chipset, packed in 8 cores with the company's new Zen 2 architecture and Navi graphics. The CPU will run at 3.5 GHz. The GPU offers 36 compute units that run at 2,23 GHz and offer 10,28 TFLOPs. These parts are associated with 16 GB of GDDR6 with a bandwidth of 448 GB / s. This is a system that will be able to support ray tracing: a high-performance lighting technique that was previously the preserve of expensive, high-end GPU PCs, and which, as we now know, will be "built in" to the hardware of the computer. GPU" for the PS5. Sony also spoke about the console setting a new "gold standard" in immersive 3D audio, especially for those wearing headphones during playback. (Some patents revealed also show an intense ventilation design to manage all this processing power, which could explain the console's unique look.) We learned that Sony provides this sound through the Tempest engine, which can handle hundreds of sound sources, for a more realistic audio environment.The PS5 will also support display resolutions up to 8K, far higher than the standard 1080p HD resolution of most TVs, not to mention the increasingly popular 4K, and will also run at 120Hz refresh rates, allowing for ultra-smooth motion in the games. These are incredibly performance-hungry specs, so we wouldn't expect a game to consistently meet these standards (not to mention an expensive TV that supports them), but it's nice to see what Sony is aiming for. .

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

Marvel's Spider-Man (PS4) (Image credit: Insomniac Games) Perhaps the most interesting element of Sony's version is its commitment to using SSD storage. The PlayStation 5 SSD will once again be custom hardware, offering up to 825GB of storage with a raw speed of 5.5GB/s (and up to 9GB/s of compressed data). Sony has already shown off its technical prowess with a demo of its existing Spider-Man PS4 game (see above). On PS5 hardware, the game is capable of circling an incredibly detailed New York City at incredibly high speeds with no geometry loading lag or texture streaming, which would never be possible on PS4. This also gives us an overview of the PS5 gameplay of the upcoming versions. We also saw the reveal of the console controller, which drops the DualShock name for the DualSense. As you might expect, the new name has been reflected in the new controller design, which is very different from anything we've seen on PlayStation before. Regarding technology, the DualSense controller will use haptic feedback, replacing the booming technology of the DualShock 4. Touch and tactile feedback simulation means that the controller emits vibrations or movements to reproduce a real tactile experience, thus improving back and immersion. .

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

PS5 DualSense controller (Image credit: Sony) Haptic feedback simulates touch, which means the controller emits vibrations or movements to reproduce a real touch experience. This is intended to improve controller feedback and therefore player immersion. The PS5 controller will also feature adaptive triggers that Sony says have been "integrated into the trigger buttons (L2/R2)." These adaptive triggers will allow developers to program the resistance of the triggers to more accurately simulate actions. It will also have a headphone jack and include a built-in microphone that Sony says will make it easier for gamers to talk to their friends online. DualSense gave us a pretty good idea of ​​the final design of the PlayStation 5. Both devices are futuristic and stylish, both sporting a two-color black and white design. It is by no means a subtle looking console.

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X (Image credit: Microsoft) The Xbox Series X, on the other hand, is incredibly impressive on paper. It will also use custom AMD internals with the same Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architecture as the PS5, making it 4 times more powerful than Xbox One X, the most impressive gaming hardware of this generation. We now know that the Xbox Series X GPU offers 12 teraflops of compute performance, with 3328 shaders mapped to 52 compute units. It will run at a locked frequency of 1,825 MHz, and unlike most GPUs, it won't vary between speeds. Instead, it will provide the same clock speed regardless of the temperature of the drive or the game you're playing. The processor is a custom AMD Zen 2 processor, with eight cores and 16 threads. Interestingly, developers can choose to disable Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) in order to reach a maximum speed of 3.8 GHz, or reach a base speed of 3.6 GHz when enabled. It will be able to run content (if not games) at 8K resolution, and it will also support 120Hz refresh rates in 4K. The Xbox Series X will match the PS5 by offering DirectX ray tracing capabilities, and will have a super-fast internal NVMe SSD (which can be extended by a proprietary NVMe card) and can be used as virtual RAM to boost load up to 40x. Standard RAM will be of the GDDR6 variety, with the Xbox Series X packing 16GB, a nice upgrade from the Xbox One X's 5GB GDDR12. These specs show a slight advantage for the Xbox Series X over the PS5 in terms of of raw performance, but we'll have to see how that translates into actual gaming performance. Microsoft hopes to make latency a thing of the past on Xbox Series X, with cutting-edge features like Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM), improvements to communication with the Xbox controller, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support taking advantage of TVs. with HDMI 2.1 support.

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X (Image credit: Microsoft) The next Xbox will also be compatible with Xbox One hardware accessories, meaning you won't have to rush out and buy new ear pads and headsets to accompany the console at launch. However, the Xbox Series X controller will include some new features, such as a dedicated share button and textured bumpers and triggers. Microsoft also announced that existing Xbox One games like Gears 5 could be updated so that the Xbox Series X can take advantage of the new power of the console. And, if you like buying boxed games instead of digital purchases, a physical disc player has already been confirmed to be included. Like the PS5, it will be a 4K UHD Blu-ray player. Microsoft also pulled back the curtain on some features in February 2020. These features included Smart Delivery, which allows current-gen gamers to play the "best possible version" of purchased games on future consoles. So you can buy a game like Cyberpunk 2077 for Xbox One, knowing that you can play the optimized version on Xbox Series X at no additional cost. Microsoft also announced a quick resume feature that will allow you to pause multiple games on the console at once and resume where you left off "from a suspended state almost instantly, taking you right back to where you were and what you did, without waiting for through long loading screens." We'll be getting Variable Rate Shading (VRS) to "prioritize individual effects on specific in-game characters or important environmental objects."

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) (Image credit: CD Projekt Red) It's worth mentioning that the rumors surrounding the Xbox Series X have also implied the possibility of another discless console on the horizon under the code name of Project Lockhart. The theory here is that the Xbox Series X will be a higher-end machine, while the Lockhart would be a cost-effective streaming option (perhaps along the lines of the Xbox One S Digital Edition). At this point, however, these are just rumors, as Microsoft has yet to confirm or deny the existence of a duo. If you're concerned about going green, the Xbox Series X may not be the best option. While Sony has said that the PS5 will be much more energy efficient than its predecessor, the PS4, Digital Foundry's analysis suggests that the Series X will draw twice as much power as the Xbox One X, and produce more heat as a result. Overall, the Xbox Series X looks like the more powerful console on paper, but there's also the matter of ease of development. In an interview with Vigiato, Crytek rendering engineer Ali Salehi pointed out that the X-series is actually a more complicated console to use, making it difficult to hit this theoretical 12 teraflop peak, while still reaching its full potential. from the PS5 is easy. However, all these specs won't mean much until we can get our hands on the consoles and test them for ourselves.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: games to look forward to

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

(Image credit: CD Projekt Red) Over the past few weeks, we've gotten a good picture of the kind of experiences you can expect to see on Xbox Series X and PS5 thanks to some live streams of gameplay. First, Microsoft has confirmed that Halo Infinite, also known as Halo 6, will be a launch title for Xbox Series X. The Halo franchise is a game changer for Microsoft, as the big-budget FPS series will have been left behind at the launch of " Halo Infinite's Holiday 2020" is sort of a cliff hanger for five years. Its a big problem. We also know that Senua's Saga: Hellblade II and Viking-themed Assassin's Creed Valhalla will be released for Xbox Series X. A recent Xbox Series X game release has also shown off a number of third-party games for Xbox Series X, including Vampire: the masquerade - Bloodlines 2, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, Dirt 5 and The Medium. Reveals are expected for the first party in July. Perhaps just as important as Halo is the fact that the Xbox Series X will be compatible with all existing Xbox platforms upon launch. If you have games for the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One, chances are they'll work on Xbox Series X, especially your Xbox One library. Microsoft's depth into other generations' libraries remains to be seen, but their support has been relatively generous over the life of the Xbox One.

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

Godfall (PS5) (Image credit: Sony) As far as PS5 games go, we now know about some of the launch games with plenty of other titles that should launch a few months after the console. Among the launch games is Astro's Playroom, which will be pre-installed on every console, and we'll likely have ports of Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Madden 21, and NBA 2K21 on day one. Ahead, expect a new Ratchet & Clank game, Horizon: Forbidden West, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Gran Turismo 7. If you don't want to shell out for a bunch of new games on day one, Sony says the console will be backwards compatible. but it remains to be seen to what extent the PS5 will take over the gaming history of the PlayStation family. Despite this, Sony also emphasized that it still believes in generations and stresses the importance of its next-gen exclusives in order to make the most of the PS5's capabilities. Of course, there's also the issue of game streaming. With Google entering the gaming fray with its Google Stadia game streaming platform, Microsoft and Sony have partnered to share and collaborate on next-generation game streaming technologies. Exactly how it will play out remains to be seen. But with Sony already hosting PlayStation Now and Microsoft pumping money into its Project xCloud, don't be surprised if much of your gaming time is streaming over the web in the next generation. As for the other titles? We can make informed guesses that some of the most ambitious games currently planned as swansongs for this current generation of consoles will be coming to new machines in "remastered" or "final" editions. We expect many of the games in development, due for release next year, to be multi-gen titles. This means we expect to see the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us: Part 2 on current and next-gen consoles.

Xbox Series X vs PS5: price expectations

PS5 contra Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Microsoft) At this point, talking about Xbox Series X price or PS5 price is an exercise in speculation. It's simply too early to tell, and there are too many factors missing from its composition for us to make an informed decision on its final pricing details. There have been many alleged console price leaks from online retailers and some PS5 leaks have put the console at €1,043 / €837 and as low as €396 / €318. We do not believe these leaks are reliable, particularly since Sony and Microsoft have yet to announce official RRPs. But what we can say for sure is that the specifications presented above are not cheap. These will be high-end machines at launch, and thus significant price tags will be placed on Xbox Series X pre-order as well as PS5 pre-order bundles. What we can also do is go back to the comparative prices of Xbox One and PS4 at launch. One of the reasons why the PS4 has proven to be the most popular console this generation is the fact that it launched at the most attractive price of $399.99 / €349.99. It was a relative steal from the Xbox One at $499/£429, which at launch had to factor in the cost of its ill-fated (and short-lived) Kinect motion tracker. The Kinect was first hailed as one of the major differentiators between consoles, but it proved unpopular with developers and gamers, leading Microsoft to phase it out in order to lower the price of the bundle with subsequent console revisions. . Microsoft will no longer want to make similar mistakes: its launch prices (as well as its strange initial focus on entertainment capabilities versus game software) were key factors in its initial difficulties, against which it spent all of that. generation to fight

PS5 contra Xbox Series X A recent Bloomberg report said that Sony wouldn't be making as many PlayStation 5 consoles for launch as it did for the PS4 launch in 2013, even though no delays in production or sales dates are expected. Bloomberg sources expect deliveries to peak at six million consoles through March 2021, while the PS4 sold 7.5 million in the same post-launch period. It seems Sony is simply anticipating lower demand, possibly due to what should be a higher asking price for the PS5 than with the PS4 released - could Sony be the higher priced one this time around? One company will inevitably undercut the other, but with pretty similar specs at this point, don't expect the difference to be that dramatic this time around.

Instinctively visceral

There's still a lot to learn about the PS5 and Xbox Series X. But at this point, the similarities between the two consoles are striking. Sony and Microsoft's joint commitment to SSD technology suggests parity between the two consoles for third-party developers to work with. Both consoles will be the result of great efforts to offer backwards compatibility through their files. And the surprising fact that they'll be sharing streaming technologies is the kind of collaboration that wouldn't have been heard of. Microsoft and Sony have clearly listened to their fans: people don't care about B2B politics, they just want the best possible gaming experience. But there's still a tribalism among fans, so as always, the content of the first game may be more important than ever. With so many ways to play, from remote access to streaming, the hardware becomes far less important than the experiences they deliver, especially as the two platforms become more and more alike. Between Halo Infinite and Horizon Forbidden West, we already have solid platform exclusives on the table. This bodes well for the close and relentless combat in the console wars to come.

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