State Champ Radio PlayStation 5
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / Sony / PS5 Pro
The video game section of the internet was talking after specs for the PS5 Pro were “leaked” and then confirmed to be true. Sony is reportedly putting on its detective hat to find out who did it.
According to Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson, Sony is reportedly launching an internal investigation to determine how leaked documents about “Project Trinity,” aka the PS5 Pro, hit the internet.
The leak occurred over the weekend during a third-party developer rollout. It could lead to more security measures being implemented for additional third-party developer Push Square reports.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Henderson wrote:
As expected, Sony has launched an internal investigation into the leaked documents on Trinity as it leaked during a third-party rollout.
Not sure on the implications yet as I don’t think they can catch one individual, but Sony could reduce its third-party developer pool for new tech as a result.
According to the leaked documents shared by YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead over the weekend, the PS5 Pro boasts some impressive specs that could put it on par with powerful gaming PCs. Some say that on paper, it sounds like the PS5 6.
It could also set Sony up to push out more consoles when Grand Theft Auto 6 finally arrives.
The PS5 Pro Specs:
Rendering 45% faster than PS5
2-3x Ray-tracing (x4 in some cases)
33.5 Teraflops
PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling) upscaling/antialiasing solution
Support for resolutions up to 8K is planned for future SDK version
Custom machine learning architecture
AI Accelerator, supporting 300 TOPS of 8-bit computation / 67 TFLOPS of 16-bit floating point
We will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / PlayStation VR2
According to reports, the PlayStation VR2 is looking like a flop.
Spotted on IGN via Bloomberg’s reporting, Sony has hit the pause button on the production of the PlayStation VR2 headsets.
The website claims the tech giant is trying to clear the backlog of unsold units, signaling what many have been saying about the PSVR2: it’s a flop.
Per IGN:
Bloomberg reported sales of the $550 virtual reality headset have “slowed progressively” since its launch in February 2023, causing a buildup of stock. According to the site, Sony produced “well over” two million PSVR2 units.
The relative success of the PSVR2 was called into question earlier this year when Sony announced a number of upcoming games for the device, none of which were from its first-party studios. Then, as part of a wave of devastating layoffs affecting 900 staff, Sony’s VR-focused London studio was earmarked for closure.
According to Sony, the PSVR2 sold nearly 600,000 units six weeks after its launch, and according to analysts, just over one million units in its first year.
Giving the impression that PlayStation VR2 did not sell well over the holiday season, SIE’s head of global business, Eric Lempel, told The Financial Times that the peripheral was a “bit of a challenging category right now,’ adding he believed “there was a higher expectation generally for what VR would do to gaming.”
Welp.
Meta Is Killing The VR Game
Sales of the PSVR2 were well behind Meta’s Quest 2 and 3 headsets during the holiday season.
The PlayStation VR2’s future is uncertain, but maybe its reported compatibility with PCs, a feature that Sony is currently testing, will help get it in the heads of more gamers.
Until then, the gallery below shows more reactions to the unsurprising news that PSVR2 is not selling well.
1. Fair point
2. More excellent points
3. Sounds about right
5. Sony listen to Nicholas
10. Do they?
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty / PS5 Pro
After months of speculation, the PS5 Pro is real and will reportedly arrive this holiday season.
Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson has confirmed the leaked PS5 Pro specs that hit the web this week are indeed real. They confidently confined the news after speaking with a source under anonymity.
Per Insider Gaming:
Speaking with sources, who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to talk about company plans, we can confirm that the leaked documentation from the YouTube channel Moore’s Law is Dead is real, despite the criticism of the leaker and the leaked specs. Insider Gaming can confirm that the documentation leaked is from a PlayStation developer portal, which was sent out this week to a wider band of third-party developers.
July 2023, word on the video game streets that a PS5 Pro-model code-named “Project Trinity” was in the works and game studios would begin getting their devkits in November of that same year.
The confirmed specs for the PS5 Pro are:
Rendering 45% faster than PS5
2-3x Ray-tracing (x4 in some cases)
33.5 Teraflops
PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling) upscaling/antialiasing solution
Support for resolutions up to 8K is planned for future SDK version
Custom machine learning architecture
AI Accelerator, supporting 300 TOPS of 8 bit computation / 67 TFLOPS of 16-bit floating point
Devikits and Testkits Are Rolling Out
Those are quite impressive, which means the PS5 Pro is pretty close to performing on par with powerful gaming PCs. It also sounds like it could be called the PS5 6.
Insider Gaming also reports that devkits have been available to first-party developers since September 2023, third-party had theirs since January 2024, and testkits close to the final product will be available in Spring 2024.
The PS5 Pro is tentatively on track to release in the holiday of 2024 and will arrive before the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which could benefit immensely from more powerful hardware.
The video game streets are talking, following the news. You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
2. This is true
4. We can’t wait to see it
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Nearly four years after the first remaster, Square Enix Creative and Sony Interactive Entertainment have released the second installment in the new remake trilogy with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for the PlayStation 5.
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Out now with a retail price of $69.99 at Amazon, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has enhanced 4K graphics and audio for PS5, while keeping the nearly same gameplay, story and combat from the original game — which was first released in January 1997 for PS1.
And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can order now and get your game delivered to your home in less than two days thanks to Prime Delivery.
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Not a member? Sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of all that Amazon Prime has to offer, including access to Prime Video and Prime Gaming; fast free shipping in less than two days; in-store discounts at Whole Foods Market, access to exclusive shopping events — such as Prime Day and Black Friday — and more.
In addition, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for PS5 is available at Walmart, Best Buy and Target.
Square Enix
‘Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’
$69.99
$69.99
$69.99
$69.99
Meanwhile, the Amazon exclusive release comes with a new limited-edition controller skin that features the characters Cloud and Sephiroth. It also comes with the Midgar Bangle Mk. II Armor, a bracelet worn by travelers leaving the fictional city of Midgar, already unlocked in the game.
As for story, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second installment of the remake trilogy of the seminal role-playing action game, Final Fantasy VII. It takes place on the planet Gaia and follows the character Cloud Strife, a former-first class soldier who tries to overthrow the tyranny of the Shinra Electric Power Company, an evil organization that controls the megalopolis of Midgar.
If you’d like to experience Final Fantasy VII Remake for PS5, the first entry in the remake trilogy, Amazon also has the game available. It’s priced at $39.97 from the retail giant.
Priced at $69.99 at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is out now for PS5. In the meantime, watch the trailer for the remake, below:
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At the end of 2023, Sony released a newly designed PlayStation 5 Slim, a handheld PlayStation 5 Portal remote player, an accessibility controller kit and a pair of true wireless earbuds to round out the PlayStation experience for gamers. For 2024, the tech and entertainment company just released a new accessory that brings games to life with precision and immersive audio.
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Priced at $149.99 at Walmart, the Sony Pulse Elite is a new true wireless gaming headset that’s specifically designed for the PS5 and PS Portal. In fact, it even connects to two devices at the same time.
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And since it’s from Walmart, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re a Walmart+ member.
Not a member? You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer, including free delivery; fuel savings at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart or Murphy gas stations; streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals such as Halo, Fatal Attraction and Star Trek: Lower Decks; early deals access and much more. Learn more about Walmart+ here.
Sony
Sony PS Pulse Elite Wireless Gaming Headset
Also available at Amazon, Best Buy and Target, this accessory delivers excellent gaming audio that’s clear, rich and completely immersive with deep and rumbling bass. It comes with a USB “PS Link” dongle that connects directly into the back of the PS5 to give you a low-latency wireless audio connection with virtually zero lag. It even has a long battery life of up to 30 hours per charge.
Meanwhile, the wireless gaming headset has a clever hidden microphone design, which slides out of the left earcup to let gamers chat with teammates and opponents online. In addition to the PS5, it’s Bluetooth-enabled with Mac and PC, as well as Apple iPhone and Android mobile devices.
The Sony PS5 Pulse Elite Wireless Gaming Headset comes out on Wednesday, Feb. 21. It’s available for $149.99 at Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Target and PlayStation Direct. (You can also find them on resale sites such as StockX.)
In the meantime, watch Sony’s innovation video for the gaming headset, below.
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Nearly four years after its original release, Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment remastered The Last of Us, Part II for the PlayStation 5.
Out now with a retail price of $49.94 at Walmart, The Last of Us, Part II: Remastered has enhanced 4K graphics and audio for PS5, while keeping the same gameplay, story and combat from the sequel game, which was first released in June 2020 for PS4.
However, there are some new goodies that come with this 4K remastered edition, including new character and weapon skins, a speed run mode and a new “No Return, A Roguelike Survival Mode,” which deepens combat and the adventure with new options and routes for a different experience.
And since it’s from Walmart, you’ll get it shipped to you for free if you’re a Walmart+ member. Otherwise, your cart has to be more than $35 to get free shipping.
Not a member? You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer, including free delivery; fuel savings at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart or Murphy gas stations; streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals such as Halo, Fatal Attraction, Star Trek: Lower Decks; early deals access and much more. Learn more about Walmart+ here.
The Last of Us, Part II: Remastered for PS5 is also available at Amazon, Best Buy and Target.
Sony
‘The Last of Us, Part II: Remastered’
Meanwhile, if you’d like to experience a new remaster of the first game for PS5, Walmart also has The Last of Us, Part I available. It’s on sale for $39.97, or nearly 45% off its list price, from the retailer.
Priced at $49.94 at Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy and Target, The Last of Us, Part II: Remastered is out now for PS5. In the meantime, you can watch the launch trailer from Sony, below.
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Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best gaming chairs, best over-ear headphones, wifi extenders, laptop deals and more.
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Source: Bernard Smalls / @BeanzGotGamez / V2 PS5 DualSense Controller
The best controller right now, the PS5 DualSense Controller, is getting a significant battery boost, according to numerous reports.
Reportedly, PlayStation will address one of the major complaints about the PS5 DualSense Wireless controller, battery life, with the arrival of an “updated” version of the PS5 accessory.
GamesRadar+ noticed a V2 PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller on Best Buy’s Canadian online shop, and according to the leaks, it will have an astounding 12 hours of battery life, a significant improvement from the maximum 5 hours you get out of the current DualSense model.
Outside of the better battery life, the V2 PS5 DualSense Controller will also feature the same features as the original, like headset jack, built-in microphone, and haptic triggers across its rear and face.
Regarding price, PS5 owners will not have to break the bank for better battery life; the new PS5 DualSense Controller is listed at 90 CAD, about $67, and the current model costs $69.
PlayStation has yet to confirm its existence, but it could be waiting for the rumored February State of Play presentation to make the big announcement.
Sony has also been busy filing interesting patents that could hint at the future of new controllers, like one version featuring a touchscreen instead of a touchpad.
That same controller can also use predictive AI to light up particular buttons as analog sticks and shoulder triggers to provide hints to gamers during gameplay.
It sounds impressive, but also so far away.
We welcome a PS5 DualSense Wireless controller that can get us through gameplay sessions without having to wire up to the console after 5 hours.
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Photo: Bernard Smalls / @BeanzGotGamez
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Source: SOPA Images / Getty / PS5
When it comes to moving consoles, Sony remains king.
Sony has a lot to be happy about. Roughly three years after its release, the popularity of the PS5 console remains high, and according to Reuters, the company has reportedly sold over 50 million units.
The Japanese tech giant also says it has the best-ever Black Friday period for the video game console.
Per Reuters reporting, Sony expects to finish the year on a high note thanks to a strong holiday performance, putting the company on pace to reach its sales target of a record 25 million units to close out the current financial year ending March 31.
Eric Lempel, senior vice president for global marketing, sales, and business operations at Sony Interactive Entertainment, said, “Given the momentum we’ve had in November and a lot of what we’re seeing in December, just in general, we’re feeling very good about sales overall.”
Remember that this number could have been higher, but PS5 sales were hampered due to supply chain issues when the console first hit the market.
Still, despite that, you can expect to see a PS5 in a home thanks to a solid first-party game lineup with games like God of War: Ragnarok and, most recently, Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Xbox & Nintendo Are Not Seeing The Same Success With Its Consoles
The outlook isn’t so rosy for the PS5’s direct competitors, Microsoft’s Xbox Series S | X and the Nintendo Switch.
IGN reports the Xbox sales have hit a snag. According to the website, PS5 sales are up “65% to 22.5 million units,” while Xbox’s sales took a dip to “about 15% to 7.6 million.”
The Nintendo Switch, which at one point was impossible to find on shelves during the pandemic, has fallen nearly 20%.
We are curious to see if Sony can continue its dominance in the gaming space in 2024.
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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. It’s that time of the year again! Colder weather, hot chocolate at night and, of course, holiday gift-giving. However, it seems […]
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Over the last few weeks, Sony released the refreshed PlayStation 5 Slim, handheld PlayStation 5 Portal remote player and new PS Pulse Explorer wireless earbuds for the holiday season. Now Sony has just released a new accessory that increases the PS5’s community.
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Priced at $89.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and PlayStation Direct, the Sony PlayStation Access Controller is a new controller kit that’s highly customizable for accessibility purposes — especially for players with disabilities or dexterity issues.
Made for easy access, the PS Access Controller is adaptive for many different types of playing styles — thanks to its 360-degree design, extendable joystick, swappable and magnetized buttons and stick caps, range of motion, textured layout and more. It even has designed to stay stationary on flat surfaces, including a wheelchair tray or a AMPS pattern mount.
Sony PS Access Controller
Meanwhile, the new controller is expandable for different types of configurations. This means you can sync two PS Access Controllers together for additional accessibility, or you can pair it with a traditional PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller (sold separately) for haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, motion sensors, and much more.
The PS Access Controller has four input ports at its base for additional expandability to connect peripherals, like joysticks, action buttons, triggers and others. There’s even custom profiles available for up to 30 individual controller settings, which means it’s easier and faster to re-map the entire controller (after setup) based on the game being played. The options for customizability and configurations are nearly endless.
This is a big win for game accessibility! The Sony PS Access Controller is available for $89.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and PlayStation Direct. In the meantime, watch a trailer for the new gaming controller, below:
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