Sony's upcoming PS5 recently went on display in a hands-on livestream with The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley that shows off the DualSense controller and other features coming to next-gen consoles. However, after the initial demo, the livestream switched from gameplay reveal to developer interview, which has given players new insights on what Sony has planned for the future of console gaming.
In the interview, Keighley sat down with PlayStation's Worldwide Head of Marketing Eric Lempel where the two talked about the future of the PS5 and what the console's release means for the PS4 as well. While speaking on a number of features, such as SSD load times, as well as the haptic feedback within the DualSense controller, the topic quickly switched to cross-gen compatibility and support.
Unfortunately for players who aren't able to jump on the PS5 as soon as it rolls out this Holiday season, it looks like support between the next-gen and current consoles will be minimal. Although, the reason is much more impressive than the support might have been, leaning more towards the PS5 simply being too powerful to properly play alongside older consoles than a lack of interest from Sony. Looking at the hints that Sony has revealed about the power behind next-gen in gameplay reveals like the Ratchet and Clank display, the new console will simply be constantly outpacing its predecessor.
Lempel even mentions the Ratchet and Clank reveal specifically as a reason why cross-gen support is so impossible, because disregarding the DualSense's features that PS4 lacks, the same games being developed on PS5 just can't be made on PS4. The technology has come so far between the two console generations that, while there may be titles like GTA 5 releasing on PS5, the differences in the two versions might as well make them completely different games. However, Lempel does assure players that this doesn't mean that PS4 support will be going away, as new games are still launching for the system throughout the year and will likely continue into 2021.
This is a double-toned bit of news, as it will be disappointing for players who can't immediately get their hands on the PS5 when it releases, but means that the system should absolutely be worth the jump to next-gen. With features as small as Godfall simulating terrain with DualSense combining with the SSD that has quickly become the biggest focus for the new console, this will be a massive leap forward in gaming. So, while some fans might scoff at graphical quality, screen resolution, and frame-rates seemingly plateauing, the other features that Sony is working with promises to redefine the gaming experience.
