Leaks connected to the PS5 release date continue to surface, some of them which could put smiles on PS4 owner’s faces.
The release date for the PlayStation 5 is still not known; however, recent information suggests it will be announced in 2019.
Unfortunately, none of this comes directly from Sony, who is still busy promoting their popular range of current consoles, the PS4 and PS4 Pro.
But what better way to get fans excited for the next generation of hardware than by revealing that backwards compatibility will be included?
It seems almost essential, now that Microsoft has made it such an integral part of their own strategy.
Being able to keep your current library of video games and play them on the next-generation of consoles could certainly prove a deciding factor on whether you stick with a brand.
And with the PS4 boasting such a strong lineup of exclusives, it would certainly work in their favour.
Fans are hoping that a recent patent points to Sony taking backwards compatibility seriously.
According to GearNuke, the patent was filed privately and contains interesting language, including the title “Remastering by emulation”.
The patent language reads: “Each asset such as a texture called for by legacy software such as a legacy computer game software has a unique identifier associated with it.
“The unique identifier can be rendered by imposing a hash on the asset, and then the asset stored with its identifier in a data structure. An artist remasters the textures for presentation on a higher resolution display than envisioned in the original software, and stores them back in the data structure with their identifiers.
“The original software is then played on the higher resolution display, with asset (such as texture) calls being intercepted, identified, and the data structure entered to retrieve the remastered asset having a matching identifier.
The remastered asset is then inserted on the fly into the game presentation.”
But while Sony look to be interested in backwards comp, that doesn’t mean everything will be going digital.
It’s been confirmed that Sony has in place new 4-layer Blu-Ray discs that will safely contain the biggest PS4 games.
The new format is called BDXL and will be able to handle the recently released Red Dead Redemption 2 on one disc.
New 128GB Blu Ray disks will be a welcome upgrade, especially with new rumours suggesting the first games coming to PS5.
One big game that fans haven’t heard much about since getting revealed is Square Enix’s Avengers project.
Announced at the start of 2017 with a short teaser trailer, no footage or updates have since been revealed.
Fans were left hoping Square Enix was going to give an update at E3 2018 during their event, but that came and passed without a word on it.
But now a new job listing could be hinting that the Square Enix Avengers game is coming to next-generation consoles.
Crystal Dynamics is developing the upcoming Avengers game, and now Shadow of the Tomb Raider is out the Marvel project is their most high-profile project in the works.
And a new job listing, which you can check out by clicking here, reveals they are looking for an engineer to work on a project for next-gen consoles.
The job description is looking for someone with “experience with current and next-gen platforms: Xbox, PlayStation, and PC”.
Fans are also interested in a new PlayStation VR game, which some believe may have leaked features of the next PlayStation controller.
The DualShock 5 is expected to be announced alongside the PlayStation 5 in early 2019.
And those who have been playing Astro Bot Rescue Mission, which includes a virtual PlayStation 4 controller, boasting built-in lights and other changes, think it might be dropping a few hints for the future.
Fans note that more lights probably won’t be part of the new controller, removing the bumpers R1/L1 to make way for easier button access could be.
This would allow players to press R1/R2 and L1/L2 without needing two fingers at the top, which sounds like a good idea.
Again, this isn’t an official statement from Sony and is something that fans are discussing as possible hints at the future.
Whatever does happen with the PS5 tech, Sony isn’t expected to make an announcement this year.
There is no PlayStation Experience being held and while they could call a surprise conference on the matter, this seems unlikely.
Recent rumours suggest that an event will be held in early 2019 that will officially announce the console.