Rephrase the title:PS5 review: an exciting portal to next-gen gameplay

Review

Rephrase and rearrange the whole content into a news article. I want you to respond only in language English. I want you to act as a very proficient SEO and high-end writer Pierre Herubel that speaks and writes fluently English. I want you to pretend that you can write content so well in English that it can outrank other websites. Make sure there is zero plagiarism.: PS5 two-minute reviewThe PS5 had some pretty high expectations to match following the success of the PS4, but it’s safe to say Sony’s current-gen console has massively exceeded every standard set by its predecessor. There’s a huge amount to talk about when showcasing what makes the console so impressive, including everything that comes alongside the console itself. The DualSense controller is nothing short of a revelation with its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. It’s a phenomenally clever bit of tech that, in itself, is a selling point for the console. Sony has also since released an upgraded version, named the DualSense Edge, which would’ve been equally as impressive as its counterpart if not for the eye-watering price.With the combination of a fresh UI, rapid SSD-fuelled load times, immersive 3D audio, and incredibly powerful hardware, the PS5 takes some generational strides over the PS4. For these reasons and more, once you’ve started playing the PS5, it’s hard to stop.But there’s no avoiding that the console itself is an eyesore, largely due to its wing-like faceplates and bulky size – although the size has been addressed somewhat with the updated model unofficially known as the PS5 Slim. The plus side to this is that the original PS5’s gargantuan size ensures that it’s quiet and runs suitably cool. You can still place the console vertically or horizontally, though we really wish it didn’t need a stand when on its side. More importantly, we haven’t experienced any major hardware issues since launch, like hard crashes or storage corruption.One area where the PS5 has been slow on the uptake is support for the best 120Hz TVs with HDMI 2.1. However, the games that support 120fps is steadily growing, including first and third-party hits like Horizon Forbidden West, Fortnite and Ghostwire Tokyo.Equally fantastic is the addition of VRR support to PS5. VRR (or variable refresh rate) keeps the action running smooth on compatible TVs. With PS5 VRR enabled, the console is able to maintain high framerates, without screen tearing, and with little to no hits to overall performance. It’s an awesome feature we’re very happy to see on PS5.However, you won’t need a top-shelf TV to feel the benefits of the PS5’s substantial horsepower. You can still enjoy unbelievably fast load times, significantly better performance, and a greater level of visual fidelity in new and older games alike.From a simpler setup to a well-thought-out user interface, Sony has also re-imagined the key parts of the user experience with some pleasing extras to boot: PS Plus Essential members can enjoy a curated selection of games straight away, while Plus Extra and Premium can access an additional Game Catalog and Classics Catalog. Backward compatibility also ensures that your old collection of the best PS4 games works on day one.The end result is a console that we’re impressed with, which is ultimately strengthened by the PlayStation 5’s compelling line-up of exclusive games that continues to grow.We’d love to have seen more first-party games at launch (there were only four if you include pack-in game Astro’s Playroom). It would also have been wonderful to see further support for previous generations of PlayStation titles, like PS2 and PS3. Still, the PlayStation 5 feels like a solid investment and with a growing library of the best PS5 games, we’re confident this experience will only improve with age.The library of compelling titles has certainly grown since the PS5’s release. Returnal takes full advantage of the console’s feature set, Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 both look stunning on the new-gen hardware, while Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a visual spectacle that needs to be seen to be believed.PS5 three years on(Image credit: Sony)We’ve updated our PS5 review to reflect our initial impressions after spending over three years with the console. Sony has made a few pleasing changes via system updates, such as the support for VRR in 1440p, and the quality of its exclusive games continues to impress.The PS5 caters to people ready to jump into the new generation of video games, alongside PS4 owners who don’t want to leave their collection of games behind. It’s a console that seamlessly bridges the gap between the last generation and the new, so you probably won’t need to boot up your PS4 ever again. There’s big upgrades like the super-fast NVMe SSD and powerful GPU that enable higher frame rates and ray tracing. But you’ll also appreciate the subtle touches like the built-in microphone on the controller that can serve as a quick stand-in for a headset. The PS5 feels like it was built for ease of use as well as pure power.The PS5 Digital Edition is exactly the same as the standard PS5 but removes the 4K Blu-Ray drive to offer a cheaper price point at $399 / £389.99 / AU$649.95 and a more symmetrical look. We’ve pitted the two PS5 consoles against each other in this PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition comparison, so you can determine which one is right for you.Whichever PS5 model you choose, though, we can wholeheartedly recommend the console as a welcome upgrade over the PS4, and an exciting portal to new-gen gameplay. Read on for our full PS5 review.Watch our PS5 video review below:PS5 review: price and release datePS5 release date: Out now (released on November 12/19, 2020)PS5 price: $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95PS5 Digital Edition price: $399.99 / £389.99 / AU$649.95The PS5 was released in North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand on November 12, 2020. It came two days after the release of Microsoft’s new-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. For the rest of the world, the console became available one week later on November 19.For the PS5’s price, it originally cost $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95 for the standard version of the console with a 4K Blu-ray disc drive. However, if that’s more than you want to spend, there’s also the PS5 Digital Edition, which is exactly the same apart from the fact it removes the disc drive entirely. At launch, that cost $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95, which is a saving of $100 / £90 / AU$150 over the standard model.The PS5 is more expensive than the launch price of the PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro, which both came in at $399.99, but they arrived seven and four years ago respectively now, and you’re getting a generational leap in hardware here for $100 more. The PS5 is still expensive, don’t get us wrong, but the jump in price does feel warranted for what you’re getting. However, much like the Oculus Quest 2, we’ve seen the PS5 get a price hike with Sony blaming this on soaring inflation globally. The US remains unaffected but that’s gone up to £479.99 / €549.99 / AU$799.95 for the standard PS5, and £389.99 / €449.99 / $649.95 for the digital PS5. Sony isn’t the only console maker with new hardware on the block, though – you also have to consider the Xbox Series X/S, which is the closest competitor to Sony’s PlayStation 5. Priced at $499 / £479 / $AU749 and $299 /£249 / $AU499 respectively, this makes PS5 generally more expensive than Microsoft’s latest consoles.We’ve delivered our verdict in their respective reviews linked above, so we won’t spend much time talking about them here. But if you’re interested in how these two compare, be sure to check out our PS5 vs Xbox Series X breakdown for more details.PS5 review: design(Image credit: Future)Huge for a modern gaming consoleSpace-age aesthetic is polarizingBut the size means more space for air ventilation and a bigger fanIf gaming consoles had weight classes, the PS5 would be in the heavyweight division. We measured the original to be around 39 x 10.4 x 26cm (H x W x D) – though the curved surfaces make getting an exact measurement difficult. The original PS5 isn’t light, either. It weighs in at 4.5kg, giving it a noticeable heft when you pick it up.With those measurements in mind, it’s easy to see how the PlayStation 5 is…