PlayStation 5: What we know so far

Sony has unveiled the technical specifications of its PlayStation 5, with the next-generation console to include 3D audio and backwards compatibility of at least 100 PS4 titles.

PS5 lead system architect Mark Cerny gave a presentation which was streamed live on YouTube on Thursday (Manila time). It was originally intended for the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, which was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We had a dream of what might be possible five years from now," said Cerny about 3D audio, which will make virtual raindrops sound like they are hitting different surfaces around the player.

"This is a journey we'll all be taking together over the next few years. Ultimately, we're committed to enabling everyone to experience that next level of realism," he added.

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Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation's senior vice president for platform planning and management, said in a blog post that PS5's new features "will allow developers to maximize their creativity, build expansive worlds and new play experiences in the games they design."

As for backwards compatibility, he wrote: "We recently took a look at the Top 100 PS4 titles as ranked by play time, and we're expecting almost all of them to be playable at launch on PS5. With more than 4,000 games published on PS4, we will continue the testing process and expand backwards compatibility coverage over time."

Despite the deep dive, Sony has yet to unveil images of the new console. 

For now, here are the official specs of the PS5:

CPU
- x86-64-AMD Ryzen™ “Zen 2”
- 8 Cores / 16 Threads
- Variable frequency, up to 3.5 GHz

GPU
- AMD Radeon™ RDNA 2-based graphics engine
- Ray Tracing Acceleration
- Variable frequency, up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS)

SYSTEM MEMORY
- GDDR6 16GB
- 448GB/s Bandwidth

SSD
- 825GB
- 5.5GB/s Read Bandwidth (Raw)

PS5 GAME DISC
- Ultra HD Blu-ray™, up to 100GB/disc

VIDEO OUT
- Support of 4K 120Hz TVs, 8K TVs, VRR (specified by HDMI ver.2.1)

AUDIO
- “Tempest” 3D AudioTech

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Gaming store chain DataBlitz closes all Luzon stores

MANILA -- DataBlitz is the latest company to announce closures in Luzon amid the lockdown on the main island to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines.

On Wednesday, the local gaming store chain said all of its branches in Luzon will be closed until further notice.

Shops in Visayas and Mindanao remain open, except for Cagayan de Oro.

"Our thanks to everyone for your patience and kind understanding as we look forward to being of service to you again soon! Please to take care and keep safe!" it said in a Facebook post.


DataBlitz assured gaming enthusiasts that they can still place their orders via PIxelPlay on Lazada and Shopee.

Those who preordered the game "Animal Crossing," which will be released this Friday, are given two options: pick it up when the community quarantine is lifted and get a P500 gift certificate from DataBlitz for subsequent purchases; or cancel their purchase when the branch where they preordered reopens and get a refund.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Grand Theft' game comes to Apple screens

SAN FRANCISCO, California - The maker of the popular "Grand Theft Auto" videogames said Thursday that a version of the game was being offered for users of Apple's iPhone and iPad devices.

Rockstar Games said "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City 10th Anniversary Edition" was available for download.

It is the successor to Grand Theft Auto III and "is everything we loved about the 80s packed into a sprawling open world action game," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games.

"We're thrilled to let mobile and tablet players experience everything Vice City has to offer."

The franchise has sold more than 114 million copies since its debut in 1997.

Rockstar is coming out with "GTA V" for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 videogame consoles or personal computers sometime between March and July.

The videogame franchise has won legions of fans and cadres of critics with game play in which triumph depends on acts such as carjacking, gambling and killing.

Play in Grand Theft Auto games has included simulated sex with prostitutes and drunken driving.

The franchise's appeal is fueled by captivating story lines and an open-world format that lets players go wherever they wish in game worlds.

source: abs-cbnnews.com