Sony's PlayStation 5 deep dive reveal yesterday was targetted at developers instead of the consumer, so how did the development community across the globe actually react to the presentation? Well, it appears those who decided to post their thoughts to Twitter couldn't be more positive about the next-generation console. The ones who managed to understand Mark Cerny's technical jargon appear to be incredibly excited about the PS5's SSD and its 3D audio capabilities in particular, two features we ourselves are also getting hyped about the more we come to understand their functions. Let's take a look at what they've been saying.
The Last of Us: Part II's co-game director, Kurt Margenau, went as far to say that the PS5's SSD is the biggest hardware leap in his career. "Still tripping about this #PS5 SSD spec. Like, people don’t even know how big of a leap in terms of game design can be made, especially for 1st party that doesn’t have to design to lowest common denominator." Former Insomniac Games developer James Cooper agreed with the sentiment, detailing how the solid-state drive will aid level streaming. In fact, that's a feature we've already theorized will get rid of hidden load screens -- a classic element in the likes of Uncharted and Tomb Raider.
https://twitter.com/_James_Cooper/status/1240509693023244289
3D audio is another feature Sony is pushing hard in the lead up to launch, with sound designers already weighing in how much this is a game-changer. One VR developer described it as "a dream come true" to see the platform holder putting the focus on audio to such a degree. "It's so motivating." Meanwhile, the composer of PlayStation 4 game Wizard of Legend, Dale North, is just as excited about all of this.
We might not have been able to make sense of everything system architect Mark Cerny was saying, but it is abundantly clear that the developers in the know are excited about PS5. We, along with you, cannot wait to see how studios across the globe put the likes of 3D audio into practice and what sort of enhancements the SSD brings with it. Are you happy to hear that developers are looking forward to working with PS5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Comments 15
Hearing how the developers feel means way more than how disgruntled misinformed people feel. Last time developers were happy with a console, great things came from a ps4. Ps5 I'm expecting even greater.
@Cutmastavictory could not have said it any better.
srsly while the fans are moaning the media is praising the ps5 all over.
even DF has more praise for the ps5 SSD than the extra TF's from the series x. crazy since DF is all about raw power.
so while ps5 seems to be the but of all overeacting fans,it is however winning (srry JJ2) the media's favour over the xbox.
so while sony dropped the ball marketing the ps5 yesterday,the media is fixing that today.
it's almost as if the ps5 is more powerfull where it matters compared to the series x.
Let the plebs shout random TF numbers at each other, it's far more interesting to hear what actual experts and professionals have to say about things.
@Cutmastavictory If Cerny designed the PS5 with developers in mind, then we should hear good feedback from them, I hope at least... anyway, in his own words I recall he said 3D audio was his/Sony's bet, no one asked for it. Right? So... big bet. Could be a winner, or could be like the XboxOne Kinect.
I'm not looking forward to how this audio solutions will works on horror games 😂
@LiamCroft Please cover Andrew Maximov's tweet (Former Technical Art Director@Naughty_Dog) about how PS5's SSD will change game design!
this new approach isn't just about SSD itself, it's about "SSD + its connector to RAM + RAM" as whole...
from today, game developers could load the highest resolution version of any asset from SSD to RAM immediately, then process those in the easiest way without needing to have such Great GPU units like PC computers...
@MattSilverado I highly disagree. Especially when other developers are speaking positively about the prospects of the technology. Better sound is automatically a good thing.
"Sounds best on PlayStation 5"
@Cutmastavictory yes, I'm all in for 3D audio, but anyway, it's all in the hands of developers how they use that feature. And the "head/ear mapping" that needs to match more or less to the players one. For me it's a bet from Sony's side, it's money and research that could have been allocated to another resource or feature in the PS5 desing. But I'm happy that instead of just "more graphics" get can get some groundbreaking audio stuff. The thing is how a game created to use Sony's Tempest engine can fallback to Atmos or whatever lesser implementation... I mean, as a developer you need to allocate resources to audio design, and it's the same story as always, lowest common denominator.
Not to sound like a negative Nancy but these do not mean the game will be fun.
Nowadays you hear more about sound and visuals but not gameplay.
Here is what next-gen is going to be for MOST cases between Series X and PS5:
Sports title:
Depending on the amount of data required to load in assets, both systems could be an instant load into a game (don't forget that Series X speed is still really fast compared to what is available today). But it's safe to assume that PS5 version will load better.
Once in game, the Xbox Series X will look and probably run better based on the fact it has the stronger hardware. Maybe a higher native resolution and better at maintain framerate. It certainly won't be like PS5 will run at 60fps and Series X will run at 120fps. For the most part, it will pretty much the same. Without knowing the nuts and bolts behind PS5's ray tracing capabilities, it is possible the Series X will have the most natural lighting capabilities that come with Microsoft's custom ray tracing and path tracing cores.
IF the developer decides to use the PS5 3D Audio, it is possible that every person in the crowd will be a sound object that projects it's own sound. Without knowing much about how ray-traced audio works for Series X, it's safe to say that PS5 will sound like you are in the middle of a stadium full of (non-COVID-19 infected) fans.
Who wins: Kind of a tie...unless 3D audio is your thing.
Open-world titles:
PS5 will have less hitching as it can stream in the world much faster than Xbox Series X. But, again, it all depends on the size of the data that needs to be streamed. It could potentially be instant on both, but the PS5 can handle more data.
Fast travel will be faster on PS5
Ambient audio will be more immersive on PS5 unless ray traced audio is also just as immersive. But it's save to assume PS5 will be the winner in the audio department assuming the developer uses it.
Xbox Series X will, again, perform and look better due to beefier hardware. Again, ray tracing could potentially be better on Series X. This is an unknown since Sony didn't go into too much detail.
Who wins: I am going to give Sony the win there.
Action games:
Xbox Series X will perform much better since those environments are pretty contained. I don't think there will be a difference in loading, since, again, pretty contained. PS5 could be faster in the loading department, but we are looking at minimal difference (1 second vs .5 second).
Who wins: I think Xbox Series X simply for the fact that in action games, performance matters.
Bottom line: This generation you have a choice: better visuals/resolutions and performance vs. faster load times/asset streaming and immersive sound.
@GamingFan4Lyf
I think unless you have an 8k TV with HDMI 2.1, the graphical differences will be negligible and the PS5 would probably be the one to go for, especially if it's price point is cheaper.
However I think if you did have an 8k TV, then the Xbox would be the one to make the most out of it.
@GamingFan4Lyf
😂😂😂.
@Futureshark
I think that was sony strategy from the get go. Get a 4k60/120fps affordable ps5 at launch and wait for 8kTV sets to become more affordable to launch a beefier model.
@Xaessya Well, obviously. But as-is, all we're speaking on, or even able to speak on definitively, is hardware.
And if the devs are excited, that makes me a bit excited as well. People are mockingly calling this the Cell 2.0, but I don't recall devs being absolutely effing excited to use that. This system, they are.
Tap here to load 15 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...