PlayStation 5 Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs
Can Sony's bizarrely-designed system live up to the hype?
After one of the most tumultuous generations in console history - one fraught with forays into microtransactions, loot boxes and "platforms for content" - gaming as a medium is raking in more money than ever.
Analyse any facet of the industry and you'll come away with drastically heightened metrics across the board: Bigger top-tier game productions, more expensive project budgets, bigger audiences waiting to play at midnight. It's a fascinating, dynamic force of entertainment to watch unfold, and it's into this hotbed of anticipation and payoff that Sony are continuing to carve their legacy.
As one of the three main pillars of gaming - alongside Xbox and Nintendo - Sony are leading the charge with a traditionalist approach. Letting Microsoft delve into monthly subscription services and physical backwards compatibility, PlayStation as a brand has truly come into its own.
Ushering in the next generation with a host of new console features, a revamped dashboard, scores of community-requested modifications and launch-day platform exclusives, the PS5 is a robust offering that also happens to be a staggering 15.4 inches tall.
Yes, it's an incredible piece of kit, and though time will tell what the mainstream response is over time, for now let's break down one of the most anticipated consoles in gaming history.
System reviewed through pre-launch access. Unit supplied by Sony.