Our first impressions of the PS5, the new console from Sony

After seven years of reign over the world of video game consoles, the PlayStation 4 and its nearly 115 million units sold hands over to its heiress, the PlayStation 5. Launched last Thursday in North America and Japan, the new generation console arrives this Thursday in Europe.

The PS5 will be available in two models, sold at 399 and 499 euros.

The price difference is explained by the absence of a disc player for the so-called Digital Edition model.

This means that you will have to buy and download your games from the online store PlayStation Store, whose prices are often less attractive than in stores.

PlayStation 4 games in physical version will also be unplayable.

Read also: Between Sony and Microsoft, the new console war is declared

The appetite of the French for the PS5 is great: the entire stock planned for the launch has already been sold through pre-orders.

But what is Sony's new console really worth?

, in possession of the PS5 for ten days, gives you its first impressions of this machine.

This present test will focus on the functionalities of the machine, its services and its practicality of use.

A titanic size ...

A buyer of PS5 in Seoul.

The voluminous box suggests the size of the console.

ED JONES / AFP

Let's start with the obvious thing: the PS5 is big.

Very tall.

Even gigantic.

Its 39 centimeters long, 26 centimeters deep and 10 centimeters high will not find their place in all TV cabinets, far from it.

Next to it, the PS4, half the thickness, seems Lilliputian.

Fortunately, the PS5 and its 4.5 kilos can be placed in an upright position to rest on or next to the TV cabinet.

But the curved and futuristic white, black and blue design of the console will hardly be forgotten in your living room.

And this especially since the PS5 constantly diffuses a halo of light: blue when it is on, orange when it is on standby.

You will have understood that discretion is not the first quality of this machine.

... in favor of relative silence

The gigantism of the PS5 is explained by its ventilation system, which aims to correct one of the biggest faults of the PS4: its noise.

Anyone who owns this machine knows its unpleasant vacuum cleaner noise.

All this is finished with the PlayStation 5, except when the console installs a game from its disc version.

For maximum efficiency, we invite you to place the console in the most ventilated space possible.

Sony recommends leaving at least 10cm of free space on each side of the console, and not resting it on a rug or carpet.

However, we noted during our test that our PS5 is not totally forgotten, audibly speaking.

There is a slight spinning noise (similar to this one), especially when the console downloads and installs a game. The console does not reach the cathedral silence of Microsoft's Xbox Series X, released last week.

US buyers of the PS5 have also reported on social networks other noises, more annoying, crackles and vibrations.

The next few weeks will show which cases fall under the after-sales service, and therefore a replacement of the machine.

Note that our console never got carried away during games on resource-intensive games like

or

.

Good news for the player and those who share his home.

A controller full of sensations

The Sony Dualsense controller

At first glance, the PS5 controller appears to be a simple update to previous PlayStation controllers.

But the so-called Dual Sense is revealed in use.

It is equipped with a new system of vibrations known as "HD", which want to be realistic.

The

, supplied with the console, demonstrates these capabilities.

We “feel” the rain and hail in the palm of our hands, just as we “perceive” walking in sand or mud.

Another new feature: the triggers of the Dual Sense can more or less resist finger pressure, again to experience realistic sensations.

We thus "feel" the tension of a stretched arc, or the resistance of a spring being pulled.

The controller is also equipped with a small speaker to add sound effects.

These features are fully exploited by

But their future use will depend on the goodwill of the development studios.

Unfortunately, the first games of the PS5 made only limited use of HD vibrations and resistant triggers.

Other points to note: the controller incorporates a microphone.

This will allow vocal online gaming without the need to purchase a dedicated headset.

We also regret that the very popular PS button (read below) is rather badly placed.

Limited backward compatibility to PS4 games

You will be able to resell your faithful PS4 without regret: with very rare exceptions, the PS5 is able to play all the games of this console.

The installation will be done from the disc if you have the physical version of the title;

otherwise, it will be downloaded from PlayStation Store.

The PS5 can even automatically improve some PS4 games with the so-called "Game Boost".

Thus,

, released this summer, is displayed in 60 frames per second instead of 30 and its loading times are very noticeably reduced.

Your backups are not lost.

If you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, they are stored in the cloud.

If you are not a subscriber, you will need to manually transfer your data from your PS4 to your PS5 using a USB key or an Internet connection.

You can also take the opportunity to transfer the games installed on the hard drive of your PS4, without having to go through the download box.

Finally, if you have subscribed to PlayStation Plus, a service that allows you to play online, Sony gives you a nice gift.

Twenty of the best PS4 games are playable for free, as long as you don't cancel the service.

Among them:

or

.

We regret, however, that Sony does not go as far as Microsoft's Xbox Series and does not allow its old PS1, PS2 and PS3 games to be replayed.

Fluid and well thought out navigation

The game section of the menu of our PS5 Le Figaro

It's hard to get lost in the interface of the PS5, divided into a “Games” section, and another section dedicated to “Multimedia content”.

This is where you will find your Netflix, OCS, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV or Disney + applications, as well as a wide range of VOD movies.

Navigation is now fast and without any loading delay.

This gives you direct access to PlayStation Store, the console's online store.

What change !

The section dedicated to the video and audio applications of our PS5 Le Figaro

A short press on the "PS" button on the controller displays very practical shortcuts: launch another game, organize your games online, see where your downloads are, adjust the microphone and the sound of the headphones, turn off the console or put it on standby, start a game broadcast on Twitch, check your Internet connection ... In game, this button allows you to display video tips (only if you are a PlayStation Plus subscriber!), but also to "teleport" directly to an unfinished level, or to a "challenge" that the player did not complete.

Unfortunately, it is always so complicated to find your little ones in the “Settings” menu of the console.

It's a shame, because this menu is very comprehensive and allows you to fine-tune your settings.

Le Figaro

draws your attention to the “Data you provide” menu, which allows you to block the capture and analysis of your behavioral data.

We also welcome Sony's educational effort, which explains very well what data is scrutinized and for what use.

You can also prevent Sony from using your voice data.

The way to go is: Settings -> Users and Accounts -> Privacy, then Data you provide and Voice data collections.

You can also take the opportunity to click on Personalization and choose whether or not the PS5 puts you ahead of advertising and game suggestions based on your preferences.

Games showcasing the capabilities of the console

Spiderman Miles Morales is part of PS5 launch games Insomniac Games

This is "the" great asset of the PS5 over the Xbox Series.

The catalog of Sony exclusive games for this launch is tantalizing, and even one of the best in PlayStation history.

Enter

and

provided for free with the console, everyone should find something to suit them.

This salvo of exclusives also serves as a first glimpse of the technical capabilities of the PS5.

If the graphic leap is - for the moment - not gigantic compared to the PS4, it can be seen and felt.

Players will be delighted to finally be able to play at a stable speed of 60 frames per second, which brings a lot of fluidity and speed to the games.

4K TV owners can also enjoy Ultra HD games.

The PS5 also supports a new light rendering technique, called Ray Tracing.

In play, it can be seen particularly in puddles: these reflect the landscape, buildings, neon lights around them.

Be careful, launch games are not capable of handling both ray-racing and 60 frames per second.

You will have to make a choice between the two technologies in the options.

Do not hesitate to play with headphones on your ears.

The PS5 is equipped with 3D sound technology for better sound spatialization, and therefore better immersion.

Finally, how can we not mention the SSD, this storage space of 825 GB in flash memory that replaces the hard drive of the PS4.

The latter allows ultra-fast loading of games.

On

, these wait times are almost eliminated, whether it is to start his game or to teleport through New York.

Should we fall for the PS5?

Horizon II will be released in the second half of 2021 Guerrilla Games

The PlayStation 5 is a well-designed console that is technically sound and fun to use.

It can easily become the multimedia center of the living room, with its playback of BluRay movies and applications such as Netflix and Disney +.

Those who already own the PS4 will not be disoriented and will experience an evolution rather than a revolution.

We regret that the backward compatibility does not go beyond PS4 games.

The console does not manage the "Quick Resume" either, this feature of the Xbox Series which allows you to zap from one game to another.

But these gaps are compensated by a very solid catalog of exclusives.

In the months and years to come, the PS5 will host promising games like

, the sequel to

, or

.

So, should we fall for the console right now?

Not necessarily.

If you already have a PS4, you can wait a few more months for the catalog to thicken.

Most of the PS4 games at the end of the year (

...) will also allow you to enjoy their PS5 version for free.

This offer is specified on the cover of the game. Watch for the mention "PS5 update available".

Did you miss the PS4?

It's hard to hold back from investing in a PS5, especially since you can catch up on the great games of the previous Sony console free of charge thanks to the PlayStation Plus Collection.

This selection of twenty high quality PS4 games is offered to all subscribers to the PlayStation Plus service, essential for playing online.

But it will take patience to get your hands on a PS5, the stock for the launch in France has already been sold.

If Sony promises several waves of restocking by Christmas, it warns that the demand will be higher than the available supply.

So be on the lookout.

Sony PlayStation 5 console.

Sold with a Dual Sense controller, an HDMI 2.1 cable and the Astro's Playroom game.

499 euros.

The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition model, sold without a disc player, costs 399 euros.