Key Sony PS5 Features Confirmed Including 8K TV Support And Backwards Compatibility

by Brandon Hill — Friday, February 28, 2020, 08:17 AM EDT

Microsoft has been relatively forthcoming about details surrounding its next-generation Xbox Series X game console, including performance specs and giving us a look at its interior design. After initially announcing the PlayStation 5 in mid-2019, Sony has held many details of its new console pretty close to the vest. But that isn't stopping gaming retailer GameStop from “leaking” some important features of the game console.

GameStop has posted a landing page for the PlayStation 5 where prospective buyers can enter in their name and email address to be notified about future updates from Sony. But if you read further down the page, the retailer posted this curious note: "While the world eagerly awaits to get a look at the PlayStation 5 hardware, Sony has revealed what’s under the hood, and there’s no shortage of horsepower."

The retailer goes on to list features for the upcoming PlayStation 5, which given what we know about the Xbox Series Xaren't too surprising:

Full 8K TV support
Bespoke 8-core AMD chipset
3D Audio
Built-for-purpose SSD storage
Backwards compatibility with PS4 games/PSVR hardware
Ray tracing capabilities

One of the key "unknowns" up to this point was the extend of the PlayStation 5's backwards compatibility. We at least now know that PlayStation 4 games will be supported, as will the current PlayStation VR add-on. However, with Microsoft deciding to support pretty much its whole back catalog with the Xbox Series X (compatibility extends to the Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One), we'd be surprised if Sony didn't dig further back with backwards compatibility.

It's expected that the PlayStation 5 will be officially unveiled in March, and maybe then we'll get some details on pricing and exact availability.

Tags: Sony, (NYSE:SNE), ps5, playstation 5

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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