When Sony launched the PlayStation 5 in 2020, the world was already turned upside down. The pandemic confined people to their homes, global supply chains fell apart, and semiconductors were scarcer than toilet paper in the first weeks of the lockdown. And while gamers around the world were eagerly waiting for the new console, the PlayStation 5 became as rare as an honest politician, you could only find it if you had luck, contacts or, in the worst case, the willingness to pay resellers at double the price.
Scarcity has become part of the myth of the PlayStation 5. The console sold like hotcakes from day one, but in reality it was almost impossible to get hold of. People refreshed the pages of online stores as if they were hunting for tickets to their favorite band's concert, and pictures of PS5s arriving by courier were posted on social networks with more pride than buying a car. Rarely in history has a console been so desired and yet so unavailable.
But when you finally turned it on, you knew you were waiting for a reason.
Especially when I turn on the phone and the beep is heard immediately, which makes my wife especially happy <3
Differences compared to PlayStation 4
PS5 brought a huge technological leap. The biggest change was the ultra-fast SSD drive that practically eliminated loading screens. What we waited for minutes on PlayStation 4 happens in seconds on PlayStation 5. It is perhaps the most significant innovation because it changed the way developers design games – worlds became more fluid, transitions were almost imperceptible, and fast travel systems finally lived up to their name.
The graphics went a step further. Ray tracing brought realistic lighting and reflections, so the games looked like movie scenes. The console supported 4K resolution and 60 fps as standard, while in some games it also offered 120 fps for those with high-end TVs. And perhaps more importantly, it was all wrapped up in a new, futuristic design that sparked debate: some compared it to a router, others to a Dubai skyscraper, but everyone agreed it was impressive.
And then there was the DualSense controller. Sony did something with it that we didn't expect. Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are not just a gimmick - they change the feel of the game. When in Astro's Playroom you feel every step of the character through vibrations, or when in Demon's Souls the bow offers resistance as you draw the arrow, you realize that the gameplay can be even more immersive.
In the beginning, the lineup of games was quite weak, which is a classic problem of every new console. But very soon the PS5 started to show what it could do. The Demon's Souls remake was a visual spectacle that showcased the power of the hardware. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart demonstrated how SSD enables instant transitions between worlds. Returnal surprised with its combination of roguelike gameplay and cinematic presentation.
And then came the big headlines. Horizon Forbidden West took us on an epic journey through the nature of the future. God of War: Ragnarok was one of the most acclaimed sequels ever, a combination of emotion, action and mythology. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and later Spider-Man 2 brought us the feeling of swinging above Manhattan like never before.
The PS5 has also become home to third-party spectacles. Elden Ring, although multiplatform, looked and worked perfectly on the PlayStation 5, while games like Resident Evil Village and Final Fantasy XVI were a pain in the ass.
Sales results
Despite the shortage, the PlayStation 5 broke records. In less than three years, it was sold in more than 50 million copies, and in 2024 it reached a figure of around 60 million, surpassing the pace of sales of the PlayStation 5. This is an incredible figure, because it means that the PlayStation 5, despite the chaos in the market, has become a commercial giant.
Sony managed to repeat the formula - a combination of strong exclusives, powerful hardware and focus on gamers. The Xbox Series X|S remained in the shadows, while the Nintendo Switch continued to have its parallel world of success. But in the hardcore gaming segment, the PlayStation 5 was and remains the king.
The future of PlayStation 5
From the beginning, the PS5 had a vision as the platform of the future. PlayStation VR2 expanded the experience into virtual reality, bringing even better technology and immersion. Backward compatibility with the PS4 allowed the entire library of old games to live on, while more and more games began to receive next-gen patches.
Even though I'm a die hard Meta Quest fan, I have to admit that I'm on the verge of not buying VR2.
There is also an emphasis on digital distribution. The PlayStation 5 is available in two versions, with a disc drive and a digital-only variant. With this, Sony announced where gaming is going, which is towards a world where discs become a relic of the past, and everything goes through online stores and subscriptions.
Now, a lot of players are not at all satisfied with it, but it's great for me, for the reason that I don't have to spend limited space in the apartment to set up special shelves for games.
PlayStation Plus has also evolved, becoming a serious competitor to Game Pass, with a large catalog of games included in the subscription.
Personal impression
PlayStation 5 is the console of the future, but also the console that marked the chaos of today. For me personally, the most fascinating thing is that she managed to maintain the hype despite all the obstacles. Shortages, resellers, the pandemic, nothing could stop the PlayStation 5 from becoming a symbol of the new generation of gaming, and compared to the Xbox Series X, it absolutely dominated the domestic market.
Loading screens are a thing of the past, the graphics are cinematic, and the controller gives you the feeling that you are really inside the game. It's a combination of technology and magic that only gaming can provide.
Conclusion
The PlayStation 5 is perhaps the strangest console in history – born in a global crisis, shaped by shortages, but despite everything it has become a symbol of progress and a new era of gaming. If PlayStation opened the door, PlayStation 2 broke them, PlayStation 3 proved that consoles can be serious technology, and PlayStation 4 defined the culture of modern gaming - then PS5 is the console that leads us towards the future in which games cross boundaries that seemed impossible until yesterday.
PlayStation 5 is not just a console. He is proof that today gaming is a mainstream, global industry and cultural force. A console that survived the shortage and came out stronger. A console that, despite everything, succeeded in its slogan: "Play Has No Limits."
