Sony PlayStation 5: Everything you need to know before upgrading

The Sony PlayStation 5 is practically here, and it’s set to usher in the next generation of ultra-immersive video games. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before picking one up for yourself. Keep reading as we take a closer look at everything you need to know about the PS5, including backward compatibility, supported accessories, and how to upgrade for less.

Table of Contents:

• PlayStation 5 specs and features
• PlayStation 5 launch games
• Will PS4 accessories work on PS5?
• PS5 backward compatibility
• PS5 price and release date
• PS4 trade-in value
• Pick up a gently used PS4 and save

What can the PlayStation 5 do?

There’s a lot to be excited about with the PlayStation 5. The PS5 offers a truly next-generation gaming experience with its real-time ray tracing, native 4k rendering resolution, and high refresh rate support. All this is made possible by the PS5’s powerful AMD Zen 2 processor and AMD Radeon RDNA 2 graphics chip. Coupled with the innovative PS5 DualSense controller, which offers a fundamentally better way to interact with the next generation of games, and its no wonder why the PS5 is the most talked about console this holiday season.

PlayStation 5 Specs Chart

Will PS5 have better graphics?

The Sony PlayStation 5 offers substantially better graphics, resolution, frame rates, and detail levels than previous-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. With 10.3 TFLOPS of graphics power, the PS5 offers more than two times the raw graphics performance of the PlayStation 4 Pro and more than six times the computational power as the original PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Slim. The PS5 also features a much faster CPU based on the efficient AMD Zen 2 platform.

The PS5 isn’t just faster — it also supports more graphical features and rendering effects. With support for real-time ray tracing and native 4k rendering, the PS5’s games will look more realistic than ever before, rivaling many pre-rendered cut scenes and cinematics.

How much storage will the PS5 have?

The Sony PlayStation 5 comes with a massive 825GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD. On average, you can expect to fit around 10 games on your PS5 at a time. The PS5 also supports expandable storage, which can be used to archive games you’re not actively playing without fully uninstalling them.

The PS5’s internal NVMe SSD isn’t just big — it’s incredibly fast. Capable of 5.5GB/s read bandwidth (up to 9GB/s compressed), the PS5’s SSD allows for immersive and expansive worlds with detailed textures and plenty of interactivity — all while minimizing load times compared to previous consoles.

How big is the PlayStation 5?

There’s no getting around it — the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition are some of the largest video game consoles ever created. In fact, they’re so big that you’ll likely struggle cramming them into your A/V rack. But thanks to their striking aesthetic design, you probably wouldn’t want to hide them away in the first place.

When oriented vertically using the included stand, the standard PS5 (with Blu-ray drive) comes in at 390mm tall x 104mm wide x 260mm deep (15.4 inches tall x 4.1 inches wide x 10.2 inches deep). The PS5 digital edition (no optical drive) is slightly smaller at 390mm tall x 92mm wide x 260mm deep (15.4 inches tall x 3.6 inches wide x 10.2 inches deep).

What games will release with the PS5?

The Sony PlayStation 5 will have five first-party launch titles. One comes pre-installed on the PS5, and the other four are available for purchase.

• Astro’s Playroom (Japan Studio) – pre-installed on PS5
• Demon’s Souls (Bluepoint Games / Japan Studio) – $69.99
• Destruction All Stars (Lucid Games / XDEV) – $69.99
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games) – $49.99 (Ultimate Edition: $69.99)
• Sackboy A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital / XDEV) – $59.99

In addition to Sony’s first-party games, there will be a few third-party titles available on launch day including:

• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (November 13)
• Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition
• Fortnite
• Just Dance 2021
• Observer: System Redux

The PS5 also offers backward compatibility with nearly the entire PS4 games library (PSVR support coming soon), and is able to provide improved performance for existing titles.

Will PS4 games work on PS5?

The PS5 is backward compatible with the vast majority of the PS4 game library. Sony publicly stated that “more than 99%” of the PS4’s game library will work on the PS5. You can check specific games using Sony’s official PS5 Backward Compatibility check tool.

The PS5 also delivers a better experience when playing your existing games. Thanks to the Game Boost technology, PS4 games will run better than ever before on the PS5. Game Boost lets you run your existing games at higher frame rates and resolutions. And thanks to the PS5’s incredibly fast SSD, PS4 games will load faster too. Best of all, most games will automatically import your save files, so you shouldn’t lose your progression when upgrading.

Will PS4 Accessories work on PS5?

Many PS4 accessories will work on the PS5. This includes all 3.5mm gaming headsets and mics, most wireless gaming headsets, PSVR (coming soon), and even the PS4 DualShock controller (when in PS4 backward compatibility mode).

Can I use my DualShock 4 controllers on the PS5?

The PlayStation 5 is partially compatible with the DualShock 4 controllers. You can only use your existing DualShock 4 controllers on the PS5 when playing PS4 games in backward compatibility mode or when playing PSVR titles.

You cannot use the DualShock 4 controllers to play PS5 games. Instead, PS5 games require you to use the all-new PS5 DualSense controller. DualSense is a dramatic departure from the DualShock 4, replacing traditional rumble support with a more immersive haptic feedback system and adaptive triggers that simulate different resistances and tension levels.

PlayStation 5 price and release date

After reading about the PS5’s amazing features, you’re probably wondering how much this the PlayStation 5 costs. Unfortunately, technological innovation doesn’t come cheap. The PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (no optical drive) will be available for sale on November 12, 2020. The PlayStation 5 costs $499, whereas the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs $399.

What comes with the PS5 preorder?

The PS5 preorder invitation has already ended. If you were lucky enough to put in a preorder, this promotion included the following items:

• 1 PS5 console or PS5 Digital Edition
• 2 DualSense wireless controllers
• 2 DualSense charging stations
• 2 Pulse 3D wireless headsets
• 2 Media remotes
• 2 HD cameras

Although the PS5 preorder promotion is no longer available, you may be able to pick one up on launch day — either here on Swappa or waiting in line at your local games retailer. The standard PS5 retail package comes with the following:

• 1 PS5 console or PS5 Digital Edition (and console base)
• 1 DualSense wireless controller
• 1 Dual Sense charging station
• 1 Power cable
• 1 HDMI 2.1 cable
• 1 USB-C connector
• 2 Manuals

Upgrade to the PS5 for less by selling your used PS4

If you’re sure that the PlayStation 5 is right for you, selling your used PlayStation 4 is a great way to help fund your upgrade. But don’t settle for a fraction of what your console is worth at some trade-in program — sell your used PS4 on Swappa instead and make more than twice as much cash.

Swappa is the best place to sell your game console for the most money. On average, you can expect to make over $200 selling your used PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 4 Slim on Swappa. This is nearly three times as much as you’d make at GameStop or Best Buy. So what are you waiting for? Sell your used PS4 today!

Pick up a gently used PS4 and save

Even if you’re willing to shell out the cash, the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will most likely be sold out for the foreseeable future. So if you’re looking to pick up a game system soon or give one as a gift, you may want to look into a Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS4 Pro, or PS4 Slim instead. And honestly, who wants to spend half a grand on a video game system?

The PS4 still has a lot of life left. Since Sony has committed to bringing new games to the PlayStation 4 for several years, the PS4 and PS4 Pro will let you play the same games for $200-$300 less. Here’s why you might be better off with a PlayStation 4:

• Game Library: The PS4 has an enormous game library with 2988 titles — many of which are exclusive to Sony. This includes critically acclaimed titles and franchises such as The Last of Us, Gran Turismo, Horizon Zero Dawn, God of War, and many, many more. In contrast, the PS5 only has a small handful of launch titles — meaning that you’d end up playing PS4 games anyway.
• Upcoming PS5 Slim: The PS5 is huge — so big that it probably won’t fit in your A/V furniture. Sony typically releases a smaller version “Slim” version a couple of years after the main console. So why not get a cheap PS4 today and access the PS4’s massive game library today — and then sell it to upgrade to a used PS5 Slim down the line?
• Price: The PS5 is incredibly expensive at $500 without any games. And since you actually want to play games on your game console, you’ll need to factor in the $49-69 price per-title as well. Instead, get a PS4 (starting at $170) and enjoy some of the best games ever created for a fraction of the price. Or if 4k gaming is more up your alley, pick up a PS4 Pro (starting at $225) — and still have $275 left over for games and accessories.

Check out our video games gift guide to learn more about other great gaming options you can get today for less than half the price of a PS5!

PlayStation 4

$170+

PlayStation 4 Slim

$190+

PlayStation 4 Pro

$225+

Nintendo Switch

$255+