Many are waiting for the release of the PlayStation 5 2020, for the design and for the games. However, there are many reasons that still speak for the PS4 and why one actually might not need to buy the PS5.
Already during the “Investor Relations Day 2018”, Sony announced the end of the life cycle of the PlayStation 4 and with the PS5 release in 2020, a successor is finally on the starting blocks.
And even if the release of the PS5 could be postponed to 2021, which Sony has so far denied, there are plenty of reasons why the PlayStation 4 could still be significantly more valuable than many users currently think.
We want to list a few reasons here why your PlayStation 4 will still be of great value in the long term.
PS5 vs PS4: Games, Exclusives and Crossplay
Which games are there for the PS4? Anyone looking at the wide range of games for the PlayStation 4 will find that there are currently many great games available for the PS4. A few great co-op titles under 10 euros we present elsewhere.
Before the release of the PlayStation 5 in 2020, several major games will be released for the PS4. These include, among others,
- Dreams
- Ghost of Tsushima
- MLB The Show
- The Last of Us – Part II
In addition, many new titles are being developed for both the PS4 and PS5 to ensure no players are excluded.
What about Crossplay? Sony has also promised that PS4 users can play together with PS5 owners. So if your best friend buys a PS5, as a PS4 owner, you don’t need to buy the new console.
Are exclusives announced for the PS5? So far, no purely exclusive title has been presented that would only be released for the PS5. Games like Godfall are announced for the PS5, but are also released for PC via the Epic Store. Also, Warframe is supposed to be released for the PS5 in 2020, but the game has been available on Steam for longer.
Besides exclusive titles just for the PS5, we are also waiting for the design of the PlayStation 5. We presented you the best designs for the PS5 and asked for your opinion:
How long will the PS4 still be supported?
In a post, Sony itself explained (via Sony.net), that the PS4 will still be supported at least until 2022. This means: there will still be at least two and a half years of exciting new games for the PS4. At this point, it is also interesting to look at the support times of previous generations of PlayStation:
- The PS1 was released in 1994, the last game was with Fifa 2005 in 2004. That is 10 years of support
- The PS2 was released in 2000, the last game was Fifa 14, which was released in 2012. That is even 12 years of support
- The PS3 was released in 2007, the last game was Fifa 19, which was released in 2018. That is 11 years of support
- The PS4 was released in Europe in November 2013, in Japan in 2014. New games are still being developed.
What do support times of old generations mean? Looking at past support times, one finds that Sony has supported each PlayStation for an average of around 10 years with new games.
If we assume that the PS4 will receive similar support from Sony, we can expect more games for the PS4 up until around 2023/2024 – despite the PlayStation 5, which will be released in 2020 or 2021.
PS5: New technology needs better equipment
Many developers are excited about the PS5 and Xbox Series X, because the consoles have plenty of new technology inside.
However, to benefit from this new technology, one also needs the appropriate equipment that supports it. And this hardware therefore costs money. This includes, for example, an 8K TV.
Why do I need an 8K TV? The PS5 supports 8K at up to 120Hz. This means that you have 120 Hz on a 4K screen and 60 Hz on an 8K screen.
But to be able to use this, one needs a corresponding TV:
- So far, there are hardly any 8K TVs that provide 120 Hz
- Good 8K TVs with a refresh rate of 120 Hz cost comfortably over 2000 euros and are not really affordable
- A fast HDMI cable is also necessary to ensure that the signal from the PS5 is transmitted free of loss and input lag
Do I also need a 3D audio headset? The PS5 also relies on an improved version of its own 3D audio technology. Cerny explained in the developer stream that they want to significantly expand 3D audio so that it is available on many devices. He also explained that it could take years before the technology works on all speakers and headphones:
- In principle, there are also headsets that now already support 3D audio.
- The costs for a professional headset with 3D audio are between 200 and 300 euros
- According to Cerny, this is no longer strictly necessary, as 3D audio no longer necessarily requires external hardware. However, whether 3D audio will work directly on all devices at launch remains a question that Cerny could not answer either.
If you want to benefit from the full performance of the new consoles, you need the corresponding hardware, which currently costs at least double what the PS5 might cost.
How exactly do 3D audio and the like work? Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X rely on ray tracing audio. Additionally, both consoles use their own specific standard. We have explained how 3D audio works in our article about audio features:
PS4 vs PS5: Is the PS4 Pro sufficient for 4K?
How good is 4K on the PS4 Pro? Those who have enabled 4K on the PlayStation Pro can use 4K in a number of games.
In some cases, however, the console does not deliver “real” 4K: Instead, a lower resolution is used and then upscaled by the console. This process is called “checkerboard rendering.” This looks significantly better than stretching full HD to 4K.
4K on the PS4 Pro – this is how easy it is
How do I use 4K on the PS4? If you want to test 4K on the PS4 Pro, do the following:
- Open the settings and go to the “Sound and Screen” menu.
- Then select “Video Output Settings” and then “Resolution.”
- Finally, select “2160p – RGB.”
- In most cases, the “Automatic” setting also works. Many Pro-Enhanced titles also have an in-game function to enable 4K.
Should I buy a PS5 for 4K? If you mainly play in full HD or even own a 4K screen, you will basically benefit from the performance of the PS4 Pro as well and do not necessarily need a PlayStation 5. However, there are limitations for 4K on the PS4 Pro.
What is the price of the PlayStation 5? The price of the PS5 is still not known, however, the purchase price will be very important for the future of the console.
However, a Canadian retailer is apparently now taking initial pre-orders for the PlayStation 5, and the price there sounds almost too good to be true: Price of the PS5: Retailer takes pre-orders, claims surprisingly low price
And here we have calculated what the PS5 and the Xbox Series X would cost as a PC:
PS4 is still valuable despite PS5 Release
The following reasons still speak in favor of the PlayStation 4:
- Many top current titles are available for the PlayStation 4, while there are no real exclusives for the PS5 yet.
- PS5 is expected to support crossplay with PS4.
- The PlayStation 4 will likely still be supplied with games and updates for many years, well beyond the release of the PS5.
- To benefit from 8K, one needs the appropriate hardware, which costs significant money.
In our further article, we explain why we believe that Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are still worth it despite PS5 and Xbox Series X.
