I’ve been playing the PS5 for a year — and it doesn’t feel like a next-gen console

I've been playing the PS5 for a year — and it doesn't sense like a next-gen console

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Pass over)

Over a year has passed since the PS5 launched. Despite the ongoing global chip shortage, Sony's current-gen system has surpassed all expectations. As of October 2021, PS5 had sold 13.4 million units and is currently the fastest-selling PlayStation soothe in chronicle.

The PS5's library of first and tierce-party titles is extended, especially when you factor in backward compatibility with PS4 games. The PS5 DualSense comptroller is one of the coolest controllers e'er made. Objectively speaking, the PS5 is an overall coagulated gaming console, and information technology's easy to see why it's so hard one during PS5 restocks.

I've owned a PS5 since plunge and am by and large pleased with it. Being able to bring all of my PS4 games is convenient and having almost all current-gen titles incline at 60 frames per second has made it problematic to return to 30fps gaming. The blazing-fast load times are also a plus. Performance-wise, the PS5 crushes the PS4.

Though I'm satisfied with Sony's newest comfort, I can't shake the feeling that IT's many of an upgrade to the PlayStation 4 Pro than a true "next-gen" organisation. Yes, the console is a technological marvel and is marketing fit but it doesn't feel like a true successor to the PS4. Even now, a yr after the PS5's put out, I don't believe that it's a must-own system.

Before I move connected, I want to make it clear that I am not trying to belittle the PS5. Nor am I seeking to fuel the perpetual console war we often see on social media. Most of my complaints with PS5 fanny also glucinium lobbied at the Xbox Serial publication X. However, I'm focusing connected the PS5 because IT is my primary gaming comfort. And right now, it doesn't quite meet my expectations for a "next-generation" system.

Next-gen feels very much like live-gen

I bought a PS4 Pro when information technology launched in November 2016. Switching all over from the base PS4 was a relatively silken transition thanks to PlayStation Addition' online storage feature. I signed into my account, downloaded my preceding games and saves and was ready to XTC. I besides had the option of transferring data between my PS4 and PS4 Pro with a LAN cable or via my Wisconsin-Fi network. I opted for the becloud storage option since it was easier for me.

It's stale for a console to feel next-gen when most of its fres releases are playable happening last-place-gen systems.

Why am I fosterage my experience scene up the PS4 Pro? Because I went through the exact same process when making the jump from the PS4 In favor to PS5. This wasn't a job in and of itself, simply it left me feeling similar I had just upgraded my PS4 Pro, not that I bought a make-new next-gen system. Friends who also own PS5s often joke that the console is a PS4 Pro Plus. I can't disagree with that view.

Spoil-gen titles (games released on some last-gen and current-gen systems) are other reason why I don't feel I've truly stepped into the next generation. Cross-gen releases see to it that everyone, regardless of system, has access to the same titles. This is a mantra Xbox has wholeheartedly embraced. It releases its prime-company titles across consoles, PCs, mobile devices and streaming platforms. From a business perspective, it would be foolish for gamy companies to exclusively release titles along systems with relatively little install bases — especially when many can't get a PS5 or Xbox Series X referable the ongoing global chip shortage.

Resident Evil Village — (Image credit: Capcom)

I'm all for more common people having access to games, but if new titles have to also keep going cardinal-year-old systems, we'll continue having death-gen experiences happening new hardware. Despite their respectable graphics, titles like Resident Evil Small town, Far Cry 6 and Tales of Arise look like subterminal-gen releases. Why? Because that's precisely what they are due to also being available on PS4 and Xbox One. It's hard for a console to tactile property next-gen when all but of its new releases are playable on last-gen systems.

I should point out that cross-gen titles aren't new. For almost ii old age later on their late 2013 launches, most major releases on PS4 and Xbox One were likewise available on PS3 and Xbox 360. It wasn't until late 2015 that we saw the telling end of cross-gen. Testament we have to wait that long-term this generation? Seeing as how many upcoming 2022 releases will continue the cross-gen style, the answer seems to live a resounding yes.

Enhanced PS4 titles

We've seen a slew of PS4 games bring fort increased happening PS5. Ghostwrite of Tsushima Director's Cut, Idol of War and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade look and play beautifully happening PS5 — with smoother cast rates and higher resolution textures. If you've never played these games before, you're going to have a wondrous get.

Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut review — (Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

All the same, if you're equivalent me, and then you've no doubt already beaten entirely Oregon most of these titles on PS4. Aside from the Iki Island fate of Spook of Tsushima Music director's Cut, I didn't play more than 10 operating theater 15 minutes of these and other enhanced titles before moving on to something new. I appreciate that the games look and run at their trump on PS5 just those are novelty upgrades for individual World Health Organization has already played them. They are still the same old games underneath the calendered new veneer.

PS5 exclusives*

As noted in our PS5 same year subsequent — the good, the bad and the ugly nibble, the PS5 currently has six exclusives you can only play on the system. These include Astro's Playroom, Demon's Souls, Destruction AllStars, Final Fancy VII Remake Intergrade, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Returnal. Alas, each unrivaled comes with certain caveats that prevent them from beingness real must-own system exclusives.

Daemon's Souls, arguably one of the outflank games on PS5, is a redo of a PS3 game from 2009. Unalterable Fantasy Cardinal Remake Intergrade's Episode Intermission DLC (the only portion exclusive to PS5) is 5 hours foresighted at the best. Astro's Playroom, for all its whimsical charm, is a tech demo that showcases the DualSense controller's tactual and grumble features.

Ratchet & Clash: Severance Apart and Returnal were built from the ground rising to keep going PS5. But as great as these titles are, neither are exactly mainstream. Platformers like Ratchet &A; Clank are none longer en vogue and Returnal's steep difficulty alienates all but players (a problem Demon's Souls also shares). I have no hands-on see with Destruction AllStars but it hasn't connected with the Twitch audience it appears to be intended for.

The PlayStation 5 leave receive a number of famous first-party games in 2022. Horizon Forbidden West and War god Ragnarok will none dubiety be organisation sellers and rank among the highest-selling games happening the system. But suchlike Spider-Man: Miles Morales, they will as wel comprise available along PS4. They are non true next-gen experiences. Information technology Crataegus oxycantha be some time before PS5 receives a bonafide moldiness-own blockbuster system exclusive.

Will PS5 ever look next-gen?

I've come to bear that we'll likely not see the one graphical jumps betwixt console generations that were and then prevailing in the past. Or else, we'll see incremental improvements o'er the course of a generation. PS4 games released in 2021 look sterling to titles released in 2013. The same testament be genuine for PS5 games eight years from straight off. But don't expect the PS6 to deliver the equal graphical upgrade we saw between the PS1 to PS2 or PS2 to PS3. Those years could be over.

Though the PlayStation 5 is an impressive video game comfort, you don't want to possess one to enjoy the up-to-the-minute and greatest games. Yes, it has some PS5 system exclusives, but you can argue that any are truly must-own titles. If you settle happening a PS4 or PS4 Pro, either by desig or because you hindquarters't find a PS5, you South Korean won't miss out on so much.

I'll continue playing my PS5 and enjoy it for what IT offers. But I'll also look headfirst to the twenty-four hours when it will finally feel like a true next-generation solace.

Tony is a computing writer at Tom's Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading drama books, playing video games, recital speculative fable novels, and spending too much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits require attendant Hard Rock/Heavy All-metal concerts and loss to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications much A Laptop computer Magazine, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.