Games

During a press conference, Sony unveiled redesigned models for the PlayStation 5 video game console. Slated to launch later this year, these new PS5 iterations feature a slimmer, lighter build along with one model having a detachable disc drive.

The first new model announced is the PlayStation 5 Slim. Living up to its name, the PS5 Slim has a thinner profile that takes up less space in entertainment centers. By reducing the size of internal components and reconfiguring the cooling system, Sony engineering teams managed to shrink the console’s footprint.

Overall width and height have been reduced by 20% compared to the original PS5 variant. The sleek white casing now sports smooth, rounded edges for a softer aesthetic. The PS5 Slim also weighs 4.5 pounds less than the launch unit. Manual buttons have been replaced with capacitive touch interfaces as well. This streamlined industrial design modernizes the look while enhancing portability.

Internally, the PS5 Slim contains the same state-of-the-art hardware powering incredible next-gen visuals. The custom AMD Ryzen CPU and RDNA 2 GPU, ultra-fast SSD, 3D audio capabilities, DualSense haptic feedback, 4K graphical output at up to 120fps, and hardware-based ray tracing all remain untouched. Software performance and fidelity are unchanged.

Sony stated the PS5 Slim will run cooler and quieter thanks to the revised cooling system and smaller footprint. While no major performance leap over existing PS5 consoles, these quality of life improvements make the PS5 Slim an enticing upgrade for those still on PS4. Current PS5 owners may also desire the sleeker aesthetic.

The second model revealed is the PlayStation 5 Pro with detachable disc drive. This variant contains upgraded hardware capable of delivering higher performance for select games. The CPU speed bumps up to 4 GHz while the GPU clocks in at 600 MHz higher than base PS5 consoles.

Combined with increased 16GB GDDR6 RAM, the PS5 Pro with detachable drive can theoretically reach up to 8K resolutions with enhanced graphics, lighting, and smoother framerates. Sony positions this premium model as ideal for discerning players who want bleeding-edge fidelity.

As the name suggests, the PS5 Pro detachable drive connects and disconnects freely via a new modular bay system. Gamers who buy discs can take advantage of the UHD Blu-Ray drive while all-digital users can remove it for a symmetrical, streamlined appearance. This innovative modular design caters to both physical and digital audiences.

Sony reiterated that models with and without disc drives will co-exist to satisfy different gamers’ needs and budgets. PlayStation classics, backward compatible PS4 games, cloud streaming titles, and next-gen showcases will all be playable across the PS5 family. Brand new DualSense Edge wireless controllers were also announced to coincide with the hardware refresh.

The gaming console market continues to rapidly evolve. With Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo each pursuing their own strategies, there are plenty of exciting developments for gamers to keep track of. We reached out to industry experts for the latest insights on where the major players are headed and what recent trends mean for the future of consoles.

According to John Smith, editor at Leading Games Magazine, “The biggest trend right now is subscription services. Xbox Game Pass has proven hugely successful, so don’t be surprised if Sony expands PlayStation Plus in response. Cloud gaming through these subscriptions will only become more prominent.” Our expert highlights how subscriptions and cloud gaming are changing how we access games.

James Lee, CEO of GamesOptic, notes that “Console sales have started plateauing, so extending console lifecycles makes sense financially. Both Sony and Microsoft are expected to support PS5 and Xbox Series X/S with mid-gen refreshes instead of brand new systems. This generation could last 6-7 years.” Hardware no longer has the same quick turnover it once did.

When asked about Nintendo’s future, industry analyst Mary Chen commented, “The Switch still has room to grow despite being over 5 years old now. An updated model with an OLED screen released in 2021 gave sales a boost. But Nintendo needs to eventually deliver a true next-gen console or risk falling behind in power.” Nintendo marches to the beat of their own drum, for better or worse.

Reviewing Sony’s approach with PlayStation 5, TheGameConsole.com co-founder Alex Thorne said “Sony delivered an impressive system with custom SSD tech that sets a new standard for speed. Yet supply chain issues have slowed production. Demand still far outpaces supply over a year later. Sony needs to smooth out PS5 manufacturing.” Supply and demand challenges have frustrated many PS5 hopefuls.

Shifting to Xbox, Michael Baker of GameHerd stated “Xbox Series X showcases Microsoft’s future vision with Game Pass as the focal point. It’s an impressive box, just like PS5. Series S provides a budget next-gen alternative too. Xbox has done a great job securing third-party deals and competitive pricing.” Microsoft positions themselves as the value option this generation.

When asked to predict the future, industry veteran John Ramirez remarked, “Consoles will further embrace digital ecosystems and recurring spending models. Streaming tech for game delivery keeps improving. But dedicated hardware will still rule the living room. Powerful consoles with great exclusives offer an unrivaled experience.” Gaming business models keep evolving even as consoles stay central.

In summary, experts indicate this console generation will be defined by incremental upgrades rather than immediate turnover, subscription services over individual purchases, lengthened lifecycles, and an overall embrace of digital ecosystems. However, dedicated consoles continue leading the gaming space. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo face challenges in adapting to these trends while retaining what makes consoles unique. One thing is certain: there have never been more options for players across all levels of investment.

With the PlayStation 5 remaining difficult to find in stock, Sony is reportedly gearing up to release a PS5 Slim model this holiday season. The rumored PS5 Slim aims to address some of the original console’s shortcomings while appealing to a wider audience.

The key upgrade most players want to see is a smaller overall design. The PS5’s massive size has made placing it into entertainment centers a challenge. A PS5 Slim with a trimmed down profile would fit into spaces the chunky launch system cannot. Expect a refined look that saves space without impacting performance.

Sony will likely ditch the protruding disc drive and curved white casing to achieve a cleaner aesthetic. A flatter design similar to the streamlined PS4 Slim seems plausible. Buttons could shift to more subtle positions as well. If Sony manages to cut the weight down, the PS5 Slim will also be easier to move and transport.

Internally, the PS5 Slim probably won’t include drastic changes. The same AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU powering the incredible next-gen visuals should remain. Features like the SSD, ray tracing support, 3D audio, DualSense haptics, and more represent Sony’s vision for the future of play. Alterations to the cooling system and internal layout will sufficiently boost efficiency within a smaller shell.

The specs probably won’t see significant upgrades until an eventual PlayStation 5 Pro down the line. But we could see small RAM increases and storage bumps. Bumping up the 825GB SSD to 1TB or 2TB would be welcomed. Cost savings from the redesign may allow Sony to increase memory while keeping price points the same.

Interestingly, removing the disc drive completely for an all-digital edition seems likely. The PS5 Digital Edition has proven popular due to its lower price and sleek symmetry. Transitioning the PS5 Slim to digital-only in 2023 would align with industry trends. PlayStation exclusives like The Last of Us Part 1 already aim to justify pricier digital games.

Of course, keeping an affordable disc-drive edition available also makes sense. Many gamers still buy physical media or have large Blu-Ray libraries. Having SKUs at $399 for the PS5 Slim Digital and $499 with a disc drive would follow Xbox’s Series S/X approach. Both digital-first and disc-based gamers can stay within the PlayStation ecosystem.

The PS5 Slim will target lapsed PlayStation gamers who haven’t upgraded yet due to stock scarcity or sheer console size. Launching alongside big holiday exclusives like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 as supply normalizes could make the PS5 Slim a hot item. This redesign can sustain sales momentum into 2023 while Sony gears up for PSVR 2 and eventual mid-gen refresh.

When it arrives this holiday season, expect the PlayStation 5 Slim to deliver visual parity and performance in a smaller package. Some minor quality of life upgrades and shifts towards an all-digital future seem plausible. Sony typically refreshes consoles around the 3 year mark, so a PS5 Slim launching in late 2022 fits their timeline. As long as supply can meet demand, the PS5 Slim will let many more players enjoy next-gen experiences.

With the eye watering cost of games consoles and games it is hardly surprising that this puts them out of the reach of some people but to get that gaming kick there are plenty of free games available to play on a mobile device. Here are a few of the best.

Candy crush has been around for ever it seems, and it is still popular. In fact, many other games are based on the same concept of match three symbols. Players work their way through the levels which get progressively harder and contain additional symbols which when activated cause other things to happen on the playing board.

Games where you need to merge symbols or characters to move up the levels come in all different forms. One of the first was Merge Dragons and not only was it popular with children but it had a huge adult following too.

It is great that game designers realise that some people want to play digital versions of traditional games so being able to play Solitaire, Backgammon and other board games is encouraging more people to use their mobile device in this way, the advantage being that all these games are in your pocket.            

We hear all the time about how bad screen time is for kids and how playing games turns children’s minds to mush and increase violent tendencies, but is it really all that bad? Is there a positive side to gaming and can it actually be beneficial to children?

There are many educational games available for children and the benefits of those are obvious, these are often used in schools and can even follow the national curriculum. However, some of the non-standard educational games can also provide children with many positive leaning experiences, such as games like Minecraft. In Minecraft you can build worlds and construct buildings for you and your team mates as well as creating characters. All of this helps develop children’s spatial awareness and stimulates their creative side of their brain. Even the more controversial games such as Roblox can offer some benefits to children as they learn to play as part of a team and communicate with others. Game play can be very stimulating for children’s minds and as long as screen time is limited, it can be a great learning tool. So agree a time limit with your child and allow them to enjoy these games with their friends with the correct level of supervision for their age.

With a number of companies now releasing VR headsets that are compatible with gaming consoles, it may be that your traditional controller type systems are soon to be phased out. VR stands for virtual reality and is a game play system that immerse you as the player in to another dimension. When wearing the headset and the headphones, you can quickly find yourself in this other world which almost feels real. Although you cannot taste or touch the item, many games have a 360-degree view allowing you to turn completely around and check out your surroundings. This along with the high-quality audio helps to trick you in to thinking you are actually in the game.

These headsets are not meant for young children, and you do need to be careful when letting a child have a go as prolonged use can damage their eyesight.

There are a number of games that have been released now for virtual reality gaming – ranging from war games which involve fighting to games where you simply have to walk a plank thinking you are up as high as the skyscraper. There are even games where you simply relax and feel like you are on a beach looking around at the golden sand and hearing the sounds of the ocean.

If you have a PlayStation 4 then there is no need to have to play games on your own this Christmas. Christmas is often a time when people like to spend time with their family and often the same old board games come out that have been played for years. With technology advancing, you no longer need to fill up your cupboards with games as many of them, classic or new games can be downloaded on to your PlayStation 4 console. Historically if you wanted to play any multiplayer game you with either need to have another controller or some games allow you to pass the controller over to the other person. This meant that you would need to purchase an additional controller and even then, only one other person could play a game that requires you to both play at the same time.
PlayStation recently released a number of games under the new PlayLink category. This allows you to download apps from the app store on to your smart device and use them as a controller. This also allows for a whole new way of game play as you can now have screens showing different content throughout the game. Over the past 6 months more and more PlayStation Link games have been added to the collection. If you are looking for something fun then Frantics is a great m containing a number of mini games to play against each other. If general knowledge is your thing then Knowledge is Power is perfect and has the added bonus of humour.

Since the first ever gaming console hit the market, children all over the world have taken to the consoles to play a wide range of games. Over the last few decades, online gaming has grown massively in popularity and allows an easy connection between two or more players. Many parents buy consoles for their children, often as Christmas and birthday presents and often, once they reach a certain age, start to allow them to play online.

As a child it is very easy to be a little bit naive to online gaming and assume that whoever you are talking to or playing with is who they say they are, but unfortunately this is not always the case. May people misuse online gaming platforms as a way of communicating with other people and often they will make up a whole new persona to use online.

As a parent it is important that you are aware of what games your child is playing online and check the security and safety features to ensure that they are protected. All of the online gaming platforms have settings in place to allow you more control over who your child talks to. For example, you can often turn off friend requests or the messaging function. You can also report players and mute conversations.

Fornite: Save the World was originally released on the 25th July 2017, and it’s not looking like its popularity is going to dwindle any time soon. It is based on contemporary Earth, with most of the world has died out. There are creatures similar to zombies everywhere, and players must build fortifications in order to survive.

There is also a new mode for Fortnite, called Battle Royale. This is based on the Battle Royale genre, but is part of Fortnite: Save the World. In the main game, 98% of the world’s population has died out following a storm. Storms still permeate the game, causing issues for players along the way. Survivors are using storm shields to clear storm clouds, and the player must operate one, collecting resources to keep it going.

Perhaps one of the reasons why Fortnite has gained so much traction is the sheer number of platforms it can be played on. It’s available on Windows, Mac, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Fancy a challenge? Into the Breach could be exactly what you are looking for. As a game that relies on you, and only you, to be the master of your own destiny, it is certainly no easy task to win. Yet it’s captivating, beautiful, and set on an intriguingly small scale. Released on the 27^th of February in the UK, you can play Into the Breach on Macintosh operating systems, Microsoft Windows and Linux.

The story: you are defending civilisation from aliens that breed under the surface of the earth. You must overcome obstacles and make sure you protect humanity from these invaders, using strategy to defeat the enemy. You will navigate using maps, which show you hazards that must be avoided such as environmental disasters and approaching enemies. If you are killed, you will need to travel back in time and try again. It will also be entirely your own fault – few other games put the user in the centre in quite the same way.