This week Business Insider Japan published their recent interview with Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan. The Japanese-focused gaming news site Gematsu translated the sections of the interview that feature Ryan discussing the upcoming launch of Sony’s next-generation console PlayStation 5 and its “unique elements” and features.
During CES 2020 earlier this week, Sony shared some quick data on what to expect from PlayStation 5 when it launches this upcoming Holiday 2020 season and revealed the logo for the console. Deviating from Microsoft’s decision to release a lineup of consoles, Sony is simply continuing with the traditional style its used for their gaming devices for the the last several years. “I think it’s important to give off a sense of consistency for products within the PlayStation brand. It is a must for anyone who sees [the logo] to immediately and positively think, ‘That’s PlayStation,'” Jim Ryan explained to Business Insider Japan.
To address the concerns over migrating current PlayStation 4 users over to a new generation of hardware, Ryan added: “There are over 100 million PlayStation 4 owners–there is a community there. We have an obligation to keep them happy, interested, and absorbed [in PlayStation].”
During the migration from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, there will still be a great deal of PlayStation 4 users. That is very important and we have an obligation to those users.
Jim Ryan acknowledged that current PlayStation 4 users may not immediately migrate to PlayStation 5 on its release, and gave his assurance that Sony would not be ignoring users who are slower to adopt the new platform. “During the migration from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, there will still be a great deal of PlayStation 4 users. That is very important and we have an obligation to those users. In the same way, we need to work out new appeals for PlayStation 5. This year will be a tough, but special year for us compared to previous console releases.”
Jim Ryan also talked about what will make PlayStation 5 unique on the console market and appealing to users. Of course, PlayStation 5 will have superior hardware, improving on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro. “Each time a new console is released, the processor and graphics improve. Those are enticing of course, but we need to have special appeals as well. We have already confirmed the use of [a] solid-state drive. Having load times that are next to nothing is a major change.”
There are still more unique elements for PlayStation 5 to come that separate it from previous consoles. The ‘bigger differences’ have yet to be announced.
To detail what would be special about Sony’s next-generation PlayStation 5, Ryan continued: “3D audio and the haptic feedback support of the controller are also things that, when you try them, you will be surprised at how big a change they are. Even just playing the racing game Grand Turismo Sport with a PlayStation 5 controller is completely different experience. While it runs well with the previous [DualShock 4] controller, there is no going back after you experience the detailed road surface via haptic control and play using the adaptive triggers.”
Jim Ryan wasn’t ready to share everything that will be unique about PlayStation 5, but did assure that there is more Sony is gearing up to announce before PlayStation 5’s release. “But you know. There are still more unique elements for PlayStation 5 to come that separate it from previous consoles. The ‘bigger differences’ have yet to be announced.”
Jim Ryan also commented on the Japanese console release schedule in the interview with Business Insider Japan. Even though Ryan “could not comment” on the specifics of “the timing or release of launch markets,” he shared that he was “deeply involved” in the decision to delay the Japanese release of PlayStation 4 by three months. “There was reasonable ground for that decision,” Ryan explained, “but these days I do not think that was a good idea. It was a decision made after much debate, but there may have been other options.” This makes is seem like Sony is committed to a simultaneous Japanese and Western release of PlayStation 5.
Sony’s PlayStation 5 will release in the Holiday 2020 season. Counterplay Games and Gearbox’s upcoming Godfall, announced during the 2019 Game Awards, will be the first official PlayStation 5 exclusive title.