The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console created by Sony Interactive Entertainment as the fifth version of their PlayStation brand. It was introduced as the next version of the PlayStation 4 in April 2019. The PS5 was released on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea, and became available worldwide the following week. The PS5 is part of the ninth generation of video game consoles, which also includes Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S consoles, released in the same month.
The standard version of the PS5 includes an optical disc drive that works with Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. The Digital Edition does not have this drive and is designed for purchasing games only through downloads. Both models were released at the same time. In November 2023, slimmer versions of both models replaced the original designs. A newer model called the PlayStation 5 Pro was released on November 7, 2024. It includes a faster GPU, improved ray tracing, and AI-based upscaling technology.
Key hardware features of the PS5 include a custom solid-state drive that allows for fast data access, improving storage performance. The console uses an AMD GPU that supports 4K resolution at up to 120 frames per second. It also includes hardware-accelerated ray tracing for realistic lighting and reflections, and the Tempest Engine for advanced 3D audio effects. Additional features include the DualSense controller with haptic feedback, backward compatibility with most PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR games, and the PlayStation VR2 headset.
History
Mark Cerny, the main designer of the PlayStation console line, started a two-year process after the PlayStation 4 was released. This process involved visiting Sony's first-party developers every two years to learn about their concerns with Sony's hardware and how it could be improved for future consoles. This feedback helped guide the work of the development team. When designing the PlayStation 5, one major challenge was reducing the time it took for games to load. Cerny reported that several developers, including Epic Games' Tim Sweeney, said the speed of hard disk drives limited game development. Slow data speeds limited the size of data loaded into games, the location of data on storage, and how data was copied to reduce load times. A key goal was to find ways to shorten loading times, especially in games that load new areas as players move through the game world.
Jim Ryan, who was the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment at the time, said Sony studied the possibility of making a cheaper, less powerful version of the PlayStation 5, like Microsoft did with the Xbox Series S. Sony concluded that such consoles often become outdated quickly and do not work well.
Cerny first described the new console in an interview with Wired magazine in April 2019. In early 2019, Sony's financial report for the quarter ending March 31, 2019, confirmed that new next-generation hardware was being developed but would not be released before April 2020. In another interview with Wired in October 2019, Sony said it planned to release the next-generation console globally by the end of 2020. The console's specifications were shared in October 2019. At CES 2020, Sony introduced the official logo for the platform, which has a simple style similar to previous PlayStation consoles. Full details were shared in an online presentation by Cerny and published by Sony and Digital Foundry on March 18, 2020. Digital Foundry also published a detailed report on April 2.
A major showcase of upcoming games was planned for June 4, 2020, but was delayed until June 11 due to the George Floyd protests. This event also showed the PlayStation 5's design. Sony planned to launch the PlayStation 5 during the 2020 holiday season.
The release date and price were announced during a game showcase on September 16, 2020. The console was released in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea on November 12, 2020, and in most other countries on November 19, 2020. The console was launched in the Philippines on December 11, 2020.
The PlayStation 5's release in India was delayed, leading to speculation about a trademark dispute. The name "PS5" was temporarily trademarked by someone else, but the issue was resolved, and the system was released in India on February 2, 2021. The console was launched in Indonesia on January 22, 2021, and in China on May 15, 2021.
The console was released with two models: a standard version with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive for physical game support and online distribution through the PlayStation Store, and a lower-cost version without the disc drive but still supporting digital downloads.
After the September 16, 2020, presentation, Sony said pre-orders for the console would begin the next day at various retailers. However, some stores in the United States and the United Kingdom started pre-orders that evening, causing a rush and confusion as many stores sold out quickly. Sony apologized for the situation on September 19, 2020, and promised to increase pre-order availability in the coming days and ensure stock through the end of the year.
The supply of the console remained limited from 2020 to 2023 due to a global shortage of computer chips. Sony expected short retail stock until 2023 but said supply chain issues were resolved. In August 2022, Sony raised prices by up to 20% in most markets except the United States, citing economic, inflationary, and supply chain challenges. In August 2025, prices in the United States increased by $50 per unit due to a "challenging economic environment." Accessories were not affected. A global price increase occurred on April 2, 2026, raising the cost of the Slim model by $50 and the Pro model by $150, with Sony citing the "global economic landscape" as the reason.
Hardware
The PlayStation 5 uses a custom chip made by AMD and Sony together. This chip combines the CPU and GPU. The CPU has eight cores based on AMD's Zen 2 design and is built using a 7 nm process. It can run up to 3.5 GHz. The GPU uses AMD's RDNA 2 design, with 36 compute units that run up to 2.23 GHz. It can perform up to 10.28 teraFLOPS. The GPU also supports real-time ray tracing, which creates realistic lighting and shadows. Sony's AGC graphics API is used to program the GPU. The console has a "boost" system using AMD's SmartShift technology, which adjusts CPU and GPU speeds based on game needs to balance performance and power use.
The console's cooling system includes a 120 mm (4.7 in) intake fan and a large heat sink with heat pipes. Sony says the heat sink's design helps achieve the same cooling performance as a vapor chamber. A layer of liquid metal between the chip and heat sink improves heat transfer. The console uses a 350-watt power supply and uses less energy in rest mode than the PlayStation 4.
The PlayStation 5 has 16 GB of GDDR6 SDRAM connected with a 256-bit interface, reaching 448 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory is shared between the CPU and GPU. The console supports Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6. It has a new audio system called the Tempest Engine, which can handle hundreds of sound sources, compared to 50 on the PlayStation 4.
The console includes 825 GB of built-in SSD storage, with 667 GB available for games. The SSD and controller are soldered to the motherboard, providing 5.5 GB/s of bandwidth through a 12-channel interface. A decompression unit supports formats like zlib and Oodle Kraken, allowing data transfer speeds of 8–9 GB/s on average, up to 22 GB/s. An M.2 SSD slot supports user-installed NVMe drives up to 8 TB. This feature was added in a September 2021 update. Older M.2 and PCI Express 3.0 drives are not supported.
Games must be installed on the built-in SSD or an M.2 SSD. Developers may allow selective installation of features like multiplayer modes to save space. External USB drives (up to 8 TB) are supported, but only PlayStation 4 games can be played directly from USB. PlayStation 5 games can be stored on external drives but must be moved to internal or SSD storage to play.
The standard model includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive that supports Ultra HD Blu-ray, standard Blu-ray, and DVD formats but not CDs or 3D Blu-rays. PlayStation 5 game discs can hold up to 100 GB of data, double the capacity of PlayStation 4 discs.
The PlayStation 5's design was revealed in June 2020. The launch model has a two-tone black and white design, matching the DualSense controller. Blue LEDs highlight the edges. The console can be placed vertically or horizontally. Air vents on the front allow airflow, while heat is released through vents on the back. The larger size helps with cooling and reduces fan noise. Senior Art Director Yujin Morisawa designed the console, balancing aesthetics with internal space and airflow.
Side panels are removable, allowing access to the SSD slot and optional Blu-ray drive. Dust channels are also accessible for cleaning. Front ports include one USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 2) and one USB-A (USB 2.0), while the rear has two USB-A ports (USB 3.1 Gen 2), an HDMI 2.1 port, Gigabit Ethernet, and power.
In vertical position, the launch model with a disc drive is 390 mm (15 in) tall, 260 mm (10 in) deep, 104 mm (4.1 in) wide, and weighs 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). The digital edition is slightly narrower at 92 mm (3.6 in) wide and initially weighed 3.9 kg (8.6 lb).
Sony released a hardware update in August 2021 (1100 series), which reduced the heatsink size without affecting cooling. This change also eliminated the need for a screwdriver to attach the stand, lowering the weight to 3.9 kg (8.6 lb) for the disc drive model and 3.6 kg (7.9 lb) for the digital edition.
Another update in August 2022 (1200 series) included a smaller chip, reducing power use and allowing a redesigned heatsink. The revised disc drive model weighs 3.9 kg (8.6 lb), and the digital edition weighs 3.4 kg (7.5 lb).
In October 2023, Sony announced "PlayStation 5 Slim" models, which are smaller than the original. The front USB-A port was replaced with a second USB-C port, though it still uses USB 2.0 speeds. At launch, both models had 1 TB of internal storage, but the digital edition was later reduced to 825 GB. The digital edition was priced higher than the original. An optional Blu-ray drive can be added for $80, making it functionally similar to the standard model. The disc drive model is 358 mm (14.1 in) tall, 216 mm (8.5 in) deep, 96 mm (3.8 in) wide, and weighs 3.9 kg (8.6 lb). The digital edition is 80 mm (3.1 in) wide and weighs 2.6 kg (5.7 lb).
Sony announced the PlayStation 5 Pro on September 10, 2024. It has a GPU 45% faster than the original PS5, a new image upscaling technology called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), and twice the ray tracing performance. Games optimized for the Pro can run at 4K resolution with 60 frames per second. It includes 2 TB of internal SSD storage but no disc drive or vertical stand, which can be purchased separately. The Pro supports Wi-Fi 7 and 8K output. Games can be updated to use Pro features, with 50 games ready at launch. About 8,500 PS4 games can have improved resolutions on the Pro. The Pro model was released globally on November 7, 2024, priced at $699 / £699 / €799. This made it one of the most expensive consoles ever released, second only to the original PlayStation.
System software
The PlayStation 5's user interface is described by Sony as "accessible and informative." It shows updates about friends' activities, multiplayer games, and single-player missions and rewards. Cerny said, "we don't want the player to have to boot the game, see what's up, boot the game, see what's up," so all these options are "visible in the UI." Matt MacLaurin, the current vice president of UX design at PlayStation, called the redesigned user interface a "very interesting evolution of the OS" and a "100 percent overhaul of the PS4 UI and some very different new concepts." MacLaurin said the UI is extremely fast with a new and robust visual language.
Eurogamer said the user interface was designed for responsiveness, improved accessibility, clarity, and simplicity. It is displayed in 4K resolution and high dynamic range. Users see a stylistic boot-up animation and a new login screen. The central design ideas from the PS4 were redesigned into a new home screen user interface. The top of the screen has a row of applications and two upper tabs to switch between games or media apps. Selecting a game shows specific activities, like a level or multiplayer mode. The PlayStation Store is now fully integrated into the home screen user interface instead of being a separate app.
The biggest change from the PS4 is the introduction of the Control Center, accessed by pressing the PS button at the bottom of the screen. The Control Center has two sections. The top section has cards suggesting actions based on the current game or recent activities, such as group chats. Game-related cards may show progress reports for missions or list challenges with options to jump directly to them. PlayStation Plus subscribers see cards with hints, tips, screenshots, or videos about completing activities. System-level items may show options like PlayStation Store sales or recent screenshots to share. These features work for PS5 games and updated PS4 games. The bottom section of the Control Center has a customizable row of icons, including notifications, status updates, friends lists, and system settings. According to internal materials reviewed by Vice, the goal of this "activities"-focused UI was to help players manage their time, especially for single-player games, which Sony believed were popular on PlayStation. Sony noticed that many players had less time to play games, so activity cards were added to show what players could do and how long it would take.
The PlayStation 5 supports streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, with more services planned for the future. Sony Pictures Core service was released on the system in 2023. The system included support for PlayStation Now, Sony's cloud gaming service, while it was available. Sony's Remote Play app, which was on PlayStation 4, Windows, iOS, and Android devices, was updated before the PlayStation 5 launched to let users play their PlayStation 5 games on other devices over a local network.
In April 2021, Sony released a software update that lets users move downloaded PS5 games to an external USB hard drive. In June 2021, Sony started a beta program for system software updates, similar to the Xbox Insider program, where users could test planned updates before they were released. One early feature added in July 2021 was support for expanding internal storage using the M.2 port.
In September 2021, Sony released a software update that added a new trophy tracker, Control Center customization, 3D audio support for TV speakers, internal SSD expansion, and UX improvements. In October 2021, Sony introduced Game Trials, starting with limited releases for UK users of Death Stranding: Director's Cut and Sackboy: A Big Adventure. These trials let users download and play the full game for a fixed time, after which they had to buy it to continue.
In March 2022, Sony released software update 5.00, which added accessibility improvements like an improved screen reader with features such as mono audio, reading notifications aloud, additional language support, and showing check marks on enabled settings. Voice commands were also added for users in the US and UK, allowing them to control the PlayStation 5 by saying "Hey, PlayStation" followed by a chosen command. Support for the Ukrainian language was added, and Game Base was improved with a new "Friends" tab, easier ways to decline friend requests, and other updates. Enhancements were also made to trophies, child accounts, the home screen, and other features.
On March 8, 2023, Sony released software update 7.00, which included support for VRR at 1440p resolution, the ability to transfer data between PS5 consoles, support for voice chat on Discord, and the ability to use voice to save gameplay clips (available in English for the US and UK).
On September 13, 2023, Sony released software update 8.00, which included support for Dolby Atmos, the ability to use an M.2 SSD with a maximum capacity of 8 TB (up from the previous 4 TB limit), and the option to mute the start-up beep sound.
On March 13, 2024, Sony released software update 9.00, which included the ability to adjust the brightness of the PS5's power indicator, new features in Parties and Share Screen, and improved mic input quality for DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers using a new AI model.
On September 12, 2024, Sony released software update 10.00, which added a Welcome hub, Party Share, personalized 3D audio profiles, adaptive controller charging, and support for enabling remote play for individual users.
On March 25, 2025, Sony released software update 11.00, which included full details on activity cards, support for Unicode 16.0 emojis, parental control adjustments, system performance and stability improvements, and refinements to messages and usability on certain system screens.
On September 17, 2025, Sony released software update 12.00, which added a power saver for supported PS5 games and a feature allowing wireless controllers to be paired across multiple devices simultaneously.
On March 24, 2026, Sony released software update 13.00, which included enhanced PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) on the PS5 Pro, support for Unicode 17.0 emojis, and new features for the Welcome hub.
Games
Each PlayStation 5 console includes a game called Astro's Playroom, which shows how the DualSense controller works. Games are not limited to specific regions, so games bought in one area can be played on any PlayStation 5 console worldwide.
Sony stated that it will continue to support the PlayStation 4 community while introducing the PlayStation 5 as a major technological improvement. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Ryan said, "We believe that new consoles should have features that older ones do not. Developers should create games that take full advantage of these new features." When discussing the DualSense controller with Geoff Keighley, General Manager Eric Lempel said, "We want to improve every part of the gaming experience, but this requires new hardware and devices to fully use the capabilities of the PlayStation 5." The game Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was described as a next-generation title that cannot be played on older hardware. Lempel also said that support for PlayStation 4 will continue, with more games to come.
Sony’s idea that each console represents a new generation was often seen as a move toward PS5-exclusive games that use the console’s features instead of games that work on both PS4 and PS5. Ryan said that PS5 versions of games will use the console’s advanced features, and PS4 versions can be upgraded for free. Few major games, such as Horizon Forbidden West, are released for both PS5 and PS4 at the same time. Sony allows publishers to offer improved versions of PS4 games without extra costs. However, in May 2021, Sony changed its plan, making previously PS5-exclusive games like Gran Turismo 7 and God of War Ragnarök available on both PS5 and PS4. This change was linked to the global shortage of computer parts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, Sony planned to charge PS4 users for upgrades to Horizon Forbidden West, but after feedback from players, it changed its plan to offer free upgrades for this game. However, future upgrades from PS4 to PS5 for first-party games will cost money.
As of May 2020, Sony’s certification program required PS4 games submitted after July 13, 2020, to work natively on the PlayStation 5.
According to Hideaki Nishino, Sony’s senior vice president of Platform Planning and Management, the PlayStation 5 is backward compatible with more than 99% of the over 4,000 PS4 games. These games can be played from the PS5’s launch day. The console is also compatible with PlayStation VR. Due to the PS5’s fast SSD and stronger processing power, many PS4 games run faster or load quicker, allowing for smoother gameplay, higher frame rates, or better resolution. Players can save game progress in the cloud or transfer it using a USB device to avoid losing their progress. Backward compatibility is partly due to similarities in hardware, such as the RDNA 2 GPU’s design, which helps match the PS4’s GCN-based GPU. Mark Cerny explained that Sony worked with AMD to adjust the Zen 2 CPU’s timing to better match the PS4’s Jaguar CPU, even though their instruction sets differ. Some PS4 games may have issues on the PS5, and backward compatibility does not include older PlayStation consoles. However, older games are available through the PlayStation Plus game streaming service on the PS5. The PS4’s Share menu is not available on the PS5, but the PS5’s Create menu can capture screenshots or videos.
All downloaded PS4 games compatible with the PS5 are visible in the PS5’s library and can be downloaded. These games can also be copied using a USB drive or Wi-Fi. Save data can be copied the same way or stored in the cloud. On October 9, 2020, Sony listed ten PS4 games that were incompatible with the PS5, but the list has since shortened as some developers fixed compatibility issues. As of December 16, 2021, six PS4 games remain incompatible with the PS5: Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma Volume One, Hitman Go: Definitive Edition, Just Deal With It!, Robinson: The Journey, Shadwen, and We Sing. The bundled PS4 game The Playroom is also not supported.
Reception
The PlayStation 5 received positive reviews when it was first released. Many praised the DualSense controller for its improved touch feedback and adaptive triggers. Astro's Playroom, a game included with every PS5 to showcase the controller’s features, was described by Laptop Mag as "deceptively cute." The exclusive games available at launch, such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls, were widely appreciated. However, some reviewers, like TechRadar, suggested there should have been more launch titles. The console’s user interface was generally praised for being fast and easy to use.
Opinions about the console’s design were divided. CNET noted the black and white color scheme was intended to be a "sculptural conversation piece." Some critics, including Tom's Guide, called the large size "inelegant" and said it made the console difficult to fit into home entertainment setups. Others acknowledged that the size helped improve cooling and reduce noise. The limited 667 GB of usable SSD storage was also criticized.
Technical reviews, such as those by Digital Foundry, pointed out that features like variable refresh rate and 8K video output were not available at launch. However, they praised the console’s ray tracing, SSD speed, and support for 120 Hz displays.
At launch, the PlayStation 5 faced limited supply due to a global semiconductor shortage and high demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sony expected shortages to continue until at least 2022. Scalpers tried to sell the console for much higher prices. To address this, Sony expanded its PlayStation Direct program in Europe to sell consoles directly to customers in November 2021.
Two weeks after its release, the PS5 had the largest launch in PlayStation history, selling more units in its first two weeks than the PlayStation 4 did in 2013. In Japan, the console sold 118,082 units during its first week. By September 2021, over a million PS5 units were sold in Japan. In the UK, the PS5 was the best-selling console in November. In Spain, it sold over 43,000 units in its first week.
Sony reported shipping 4.5 million PS5 units by December 31, 2020. By March 31, 2021, shipments reached 7.8 million units, surpassing the PS4’s first two-quarter total. By July 2021, 10 million units had been sold, making it Sony’s fastest-selling console. By June 2021, 10.1 million units were shipped, and sales continued to grow. Shipments reached 13.4 million by September 2021. Sony initially aimed to ship 22 million units by March 2022 but later revised this to 15 million. Despite this, sales were expected to reach 22.6 million units in 2022.
Bloomberg News reported in January 2022 that Sony continued producing the PS4 to help meet PS5 demand during the chip shortage. By September 2024, total PS5 shipments reached 65 million units. Sony’s Q2 2025 financial results showed that 84.2 million PS5 units had been shipped.
Sales milestones included 20 million units by May 2022, 40 million by July 2023, 50 million by December 2023, and 75 million by February 2025.