“It’s Quiet And Fast”: PlayStation 5 Is Getting A Positive Reception In Japan
With the PlayStation 5's launch in just over a month, fans have been hoping for a closer look at the console before securing their pre-order. Before October, not much was known about the PlayStation 5, besides several unverifiable rumours and leaks. Recently, a number of Japanese influencers and outlets have gotten their hands on the console, posting their findings to YouTube and Twitter. These influencers have allowed the world to learn more about the PlayStation 5 and what players can expect in November.
While no UI has been shown, these influencers have given fans a first-hand look at games, hardware, and the new DualSense controller. These videos provide an in-depth look at the console, showing off its sheer size and technical prowess.
Many Japanese influencers have stated that the console is "fast" and "quiet." Other influencers and outlets have praised the console's state-of-the-art cooling system, which runs seamlessly and quietly, keeping the console cool even during gameplay. This addresses a major issue that PlayStation 5 sceptics had with the console- whether or not its cooling system would be up to par with the high-end processes the machine could run. If the PlayStation 5 runs as silently and quickly as it did while influencers around the world were experiencing Astro's Playroom and Godfall for the first time, then its cooling system is truly the technical marvel Sony claimed it to be.
Click to enlargeSpeaking of Sony, in light of all of the influencers posting their own in-depth reviews and tear-downs of the console, Sony also decided to pitch in. On October 7, the official PlayStation YouTube channel uploaded a tear-down of the PlayStation 5, giving consumers "an up-close and personal look at the console's hardware." This video was met with overwhelmingly positive reception, garnering over 4 million views within just a day of its posting. As of the publication of this article, the video sits at over 4.4 million views.
Much like the video, the PlayStation 5 itself has been met with a lot of positive reception since its more in-depth reveal. Initially, many were sceptical of the console, as they didn't know if it would meet all of the promises that Sony previously made. Many were put off by the issues with pre-order and the console's steep cost. Some were even worried about the console's exclusives, as after Microsoft purchased ZeniMax Studios, players wondered what was left for Sony to claim.
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Additionally, Japanese customers were worried about a huge change coming to the next-generation PlayStation model. Previously, Japanese PlayStation owners had used the O button to confirm choices made in-game menus. In a shocking move, Sony stated that they wanted to unify the PlayStation 5 across regions, swapping the functionality and locations of the X and O buttons on the new DualSense controllers to match the rest of the world's standard.
Japanese PlayStation 5 owners are still getting used to this massive change in layout and function; however, reactions have been mostly positive. Many were worried that this huge change would create a PR disaster for Sony, especially amongst all of the issues with the pre-order system for the console. It seems the opposite is happening, though. This big change in controller functionality has made headlines, but many of the people playtesting the PlayStation 5 seem unphased by the change. For some, it might take a bit of getting used to, but most seem to agree with Sony's idea to unify the PlayStation 5 worldwide, instead of having arbitrary regional differences.
Famitsu recently revealed another change to the PlayStation controller. They stated that the new DualSense controllers no longer relied on rumble feedback. Rather, they utilised haptic feedback. This type of feedback is much different than rumble feedback, which simply vibrates the controller to match the intensity of a moment in-game.
Click to enlargeHaptic feedback matches the game's action with the controller's level of resistance. The controller will produce audio and sensory components, allowing players to feel the texture of the world they're in and enemies they're fighting. This was demonstrated by many Japanese influencers, who could "feel" the texture of the ground they were walking on in Astro's Playroom. This might explain the huge push away from DualShock controllers, as Sony wishes to implement new technology in the PlayStation 5, rather than reuse old concepts.
Click to enlargeAs the PlayStation 5's release gets closer, fans are wondering what other information about the console will be revealed. Many are speculating that a long-overdue UI overhaul will be what influencers and outlets showcase next. Many want to see more games put to the test against the system's "quick" processors and "quiet" cooling system. As new games are released, players will be able to put them to the test against the PlayStation 5. Until then, there are countless controller and game demonstrations on YouTube for customers on the fence about the PlayStation 5 to watch.
Images via Sony and ASOBI Team
