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Sony finally announced its next-generation console PS5. It changed from the more conservative design of its predecessor and its appearance stunned players all over the world.

Not only does the PS5 have a futuristic two-tone design, but it also comes in a Blu-ray version and a digital version without a disc drive.

While waiting for its release at the end of the year, you might as well review the development history of its hardware with us.

Below we will review the history of hardware evolution in depth, hoping to bring some entertainment to players who are eager to play new PS5 games.

1.

The original PS1 was the first home game console developed by Sony and was first launched in Japan in December 1994. It was released in North America and Europe in 1995. However, the road to overseas sales this time was not easy, and the entire game industry almost moved to another world line. The reason is the Nintendo console.

Nintendo and Sony Japan signed a cooperation agreement in 1988 to jointly develop a CD-ROM-based platform for future Nintendo systems. The Super Nintendo was originally scheduled to be released in Japan in 1992, but Nintendo later announced that the machine would be released with the later creation of the CD-i. The cooperation between the two giants came to an end.

Although Nintendo failed to launch it, it laid the foundation for the future release of games such as "Ridge Racer", "Rayman", and "God of War".

Takeru Kutaragi said that when designing, his goal was to create a "high-performance, low-price, and convenient platform for game development."

This machine also has a dedicated image processing unit called MDEC, which can handle high-quality animation effects in games such as "Final Fantasy 7". The original version of the controller did not have analog sticks, and this upgrade was not available until the release of Planet Fighter 2 and Bushido Blade in 1997.

The console was produced until March 2006 and more than 100 million units were sold. Many old players still miss this console. Works such as "Final Fantasy 7" and "Metal Gear Solid" have been launched on this console.

2.

It is a PS1 peripheral released in Japan in 1999. It has an LCD screen and five buttons. This device is also designed with 15 memory card slots, which can be used as memory cards and run special mini-games.

One of the mini-games linked to "Final Fantasy 8" is called "Chocobo World". After players find or purchase a chocobo, they can download it and develop a deeper relationship with it.

Unfortunately, it never made it out of Japan and was discontinued in 2002. However, in 2013, Sony announced an application on PSV, which revived it to a certain extent.

3. PS One

In 2000, Sony redesigned the original PS1 into a smaller body and named it PS One. (This machine was released in the same year as the PS2)

PS One is compatible with all PS1 games and has undergone modifications such as external power supply. PS One can also be connected to an external LCD display, and with a power supply, you can even play games in the car.

4.2

2 was released in late 2000 and was compatible with the original PS controller and all games. But the real power of the PS2 is its DVD drive, which allows the console to run a new generation of games and play movies independently.

This feature attracted new consumer groups, and many people who had never planned to buy a game console bought the PS2, helping the machine become the best-selling game console in history. The PS2 sold a total of 159 million units and remains the best-selling console to this day.

PS2 also supports networking, and players can play 2002's "SEAL Team: Team 2" and "Final Fantasy 11" online.

The PS2 has been in production for nearly 13 years, with titles such as "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas", "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater", "Wanda and the Colossus", "Final Fantasy 10", "God of War", " Many well-known games such as "Kingdom Hearts" have been launched on this console.

5.PSX

PSX is a comprehensive audio and video terminal based on PS2. This machine was launched in Japan in 2003, but sales were poor because the audience felt there was no need to buy it, and Sony never sold the product outside Japan.

PSX comes with an infrared wireless remote control that can accept high-frequency broadcast and cable TV signals. At the same time, this is also Sony's first hardware to adopt the cross media key UI. This design has been used by many products such as PSP and PS3.

6. "PS2 Slim"

In 2004, Sony announced the first major modification of PS22, which is also known as PS2 Slim. The new body is thinner and lighter, runs less noisily, and has a built-in network cable interface. However, it cancels the hard drive expansion dock and built-in power supply. For many players, the lack of a docking station has a big impact. Masterpieces like "Final Fantasy 11" require an external hard drive to play.

The new PS2 Slim was launched a few days after the release of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and has since launched many optimizations and modifications.

7.

The PSP was released in Japan in 2004, aiming to compete with the Nintendo DS in the handheld market.

PSP has powerful picture processing capabilities, can connect PS2 and PS3, and also supports online connections. This handheld console includes almost all the functions of a traditional controller, canceling the L2 and R2 keys and the right joystick. The main storage medium uses UMD, which can run games and movies stored in UMD.

PSP sales were extremely good, with more than 80 million units sold before it was discontinued in 2014. In 2005, hackers cracked the PSP code and published it online, which led to a series of rampant piracy in the future.

8.PSP-2000

In September 2007, Sony announced the PSP-2000, a machine that was thinner and lighter than the original PSP. The PSP-2000 is 33% lighter and 19% thinner than the original version. More importantly, the loading method of UMD and memory card is optimized.

The PSP-2000's speakers were moved from the bottom to the top of the panel, and the D-pad height was slightly raised. The battery weight is reduced and the capacity is lower, but due to more cutting-edge energy technology, the new battery has little impact on the player's gaming experience.

The PSP-2000 also introduced a new feature that allows players to connect an external TV with a video cable to run games or watch movies at a resolution of up to 720P.

9.PSP-3000

The PSP-3000 was officially released in 2008 and went on sale later that year. This machine has a better LCD display that can display "twice the color gamut and five times the contrast ratio of the previous model."

PSP-3000 has a built-in microphone and can use Skype voice chat. The screen adopts an anti-reflective design, which can effectively reduce screen glare.

Subtle changes include the Start, and Home buttons being changed from a half-moon shape to an oval shape, and the Home button has also been changed to the same PS button on the PS3 controller.

10.3

The success of the PS2 allowed Sony to continue developing the third-generation console with confidence, but this console did not achieve the success they expected. It all started when the PS3 was announced at E3 2005, or more precisely, the boomerang-like controller.

This controller has changed from the classic 2 style. Although it appeared at E3 in 2005, it was not the focus of Sony's announcement that year. The following year, they introduced a more traditional handle to replace the boomerang handle. But at E3 2006, Sony's press conference aroused more doubts. This may be the most embarrassing press conference in the history of E3.

The PS3 was released in the United States in the fall of 2006 and was the first console to feature a Blu-ray drive. This machine was launched at the same time and was able to connect wirelessly to the PSP, a feature that future PSVs would also support.

The PS3's Cell processor is notoriously difficult for software development, and it also brings about very serious backward compatibility issues. Both pre-PS3 games and PS3 to PS4 games suffer from this problem.

But even with these obstacles, the machine still found its audience and achieved sales of more than 88 million units. The PS3 platform still brings us classic IPs such as "The Last of Us" and "Uncharted".

11. 3 Slim

In 2009, Sony announced the PS3 Slim, a redesigned console that was smaller, had a noisier cooling system, and consumed less energy.

The "3" logo that resembles Spider-Man's title on the top of the fuselage has also been changed. Hirai Kazuo said at the time that this move was intended for self-innovation within the company.

12.PSP Go

In 2009, Sony launched a PSP upgrade, PSP Go. This machine is 43% lighter and 56% smaller than the original version. It has a 3.8-inch LCD screen with a pixel resolution and a sliding design.

The original USB interface has been replaced by a dedicated interface, but PSP GO supports Bluetooth connection. Players can use or 3 controllers to play the game. PSP Go does not have a built-in UMD optical drive, but uses 16 GB of storage space, which players can upgrade by themselves. In our IGN review, we mentioned: "Sony's original intention was good. They wanted to push mainstream games onto a purely digital platform." However, in the end, it seems that this idea was not fully realized.

13.Sony

In 2010, Sony launched a 22-inch TV Sony with a built-in PS2 console. The TV only comes with a single controller that can run PS1 games.

14. 3D

In 2011, Sony pioneered the first brand of high-definition TV. This device has a 240 Hz refresh rate, ultra-low output latency, 3D capabilities and 1080P resolution. The frame of this 24-inch LED high-definition TV adopts an arc design. Taking advantage of the TV's 3D capabilities, Sony also launched technology that allows two players to wear 3D glasses and experience 3D images on the same screen.

In our review: "Features or not, the $499 3D is well worth the price. This TV may be small, but its excellent picture quality and many features are worth the price. If you're on a budget And if you need a compact high-definition TV, you may want to consider this product.”

15. Play

Launched in 2011, the Play was the first Android device to work with it, a sliding smartphone with classic controls hidden beneath the screen. This phone has six built-in Android games and the PS classic game "Crash Bandicoot Racing".

We said in our review at the time: "Essentially, the Play isn't a bad phone, it's just not great. Sony Ericsson misjudged market trends and delivered a device with mediocre performance and a poorly timed release. No, in the end, neither experienced players nor ordinary consumers will be pleased.

16. Vita

The direct successor to the PSP, the Vita was launched in Japan in 2011 and in other regions in 2012. This machine comes with dual joysticks, a 5-inch OLED touch screen, and a touch back panel.

The emergence of this machine is to fill the gap between the mobile phone platform and the console platform. It has brought exclusive works such as "Persona 4: Golden Edition", "Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation", "Little Big Planet PSV", "Killzone: Mercenaries" and even "Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified". Unfortunately, although the platform has produced several excellent games such as "Uncharted: Golden Abyss", most games have failed to meet players' expectations.

Sales were initially strong, but soon flattened out, with the PSV only selling about 6 million units in its first two years of release. This is a drop in the bucket compared to the 80 million units sold by the PSP.

Sony sparked a glimmer of hope when they said the PSV would be linked to the PS4, and they even released a PS4 and PSV bundle in the UK. Everything seemed to be going so smoothly, and there was news that the PSV could play PS4 games remotely, but in the end, the PSV failed to live up to Sony's high expectations.

The PSP had the advantage of not competing on mobile devices, but the PSV wasn't so lucky. Jack, the former CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, once said that the PSV was an excellent machine, but it was a pity that it was not born at the right time. The world is starting to embrace mobile devices instead of dedicated gaming machines.

17. 3 Super Slim

In 2012, Sony launched the PS3 Super Slim version, equipped with a 250GB or 500GB hard drive, which was a qualitative leap compared to the original 20GB or 60GB configuration.

Compared with the PS3 Slim, the Super Slim version is 25% lighter and 20% less noisy.

18.4

The PS4 is different from all previous consoles in that it's not built with a new medium in mind (PS1 is CD, PS2 is DVD, and PS3 is Blu-ray), but this console still brings a bright future to Sony.

PS4 was first unveiled in 2013. At E3 of the same year, Sony announced that its fourth-generation console would be released on November 15, priced at only $399. Sony also announced that the new console will no longer use the Cell processor architecture and will instead use a more standard AMD APU.

The lower pricing not only makes up for the PS3's $599 pricing miss, but it's also part of a countermeasure to the Xbox One's game ownership and networking policies. Who doesn’t remember Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes’ guide to sharing second-hand games?

PS4 has added many emerging features, including the ability to stream games to PSV or a friend's console through Share Play.

Another important innovation accompanying the arrival of PS4 is the 4-handler. This controller not only replaces the traditional Start and Share buttons with the Start and Share buttons, but also adds a front touchpad, dynamic sensing and a light bar that can be linked with the game.

This light bar not only flashes red and blue when you are wanted by the police while playing "GTAV", but they also considered using it for PSVR headset tracking from the beginning.

PS4's game lineup is very luxurious. Excellent games such as "Bloodline", "Uncharted 4", "Horizon: Zero Dawn", "God of War", etc. have made PS4 lead the console war of this generation. Sales of this machine eventually exceeded 100 million units, and there is still potential to be tapped in the future.

19. Vita (PCH-2000)

PSV launched another model in 2013, which is generally called PSV Slim. This machine is 20% thinner and 15% lighter than the original version. It is equipped with a lower-cost LCD screen. This model has longer battery life and the interface is replaced by a micro-USB Type-B interface.

20.TV

TV was released in Japan in 2013 (Editor's note: the full name is Vita TV, abbreviated as TV, but in countries outside Asia it is called TV, abbreviated as PS TV). It landed in other regions in 2014, supports PS4 Play and projects PSV games to TV. 3 and 4 play.

However, not all PSV games can be played on TV. This box lacks gyroscopes, cameras, microphones and other equipment. Touch screen control can be achieved through the 4 touch pad.

We said in our PS TV review: "As a peripheral for PS4 Play, it may be popular among those who are die-hard game fans or have homes with unusually strong Wifi signals. It's better than searching for a place here. For placing a PS4, a TV that supports Play is much more convenient, and this box is also much cheaper than buying a second console. However, as a standalone device, the disadvantage of PS TV is the games it supports There are few and no audio and video applications, and Now’s performance in a WiFi environment is also unsatisfactory. I hope Sony can optimize the experience in the future, but at the moment it is difficult to recommend you to buy it.”

However, until Sony stopped production in 2016, the experience of this multimedia box did not get better.

21. 4 Slim

In 2016, Sony announced the first improved model of PS4, PS4 Slim. Compared with the original version, this machine is 40% smaller and its appearance is more rounded. The 500GB version initially sold was later replaced by a 1TB product of the same price.

Our PS4 Slim review wrote: "Overall, the new PS4 console meets design expectations, but it is not significantly improved compared to its predecessor. It is not much smaller, the heat dissipation is not good, and it lacks a digital audio interface , those players who want to connect high-end audio equipment for gaming either have to switch to equipment with traditional interfaces, or they can only continue to wait for the release of PS4 Pro and spend more money to experience the sound effects of their own high-end headphones.”

22.VR

Sony may not have been a success when it launched in 1996, but they really established a foothold in the VR field with PSVR. Sony's headset has a 5.7-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 1080P. As of 2019, more than 5 million units of this VR device have been sold.

PSVR requires the power of PS4 to run, taking advantage of the functions of Move and 4 controllers. PSVR's own processor can connect this device to PS4. The first version of the machine does not support HDR picture output, and subsequent improved models support this feature.

Sony officially confirmed that PS5 will continue to support PSVR.

23. 4 Pro

Also in 2016, Sony unveiled the PS4 Pro, a console that supports 4K HDR picture output. It has an ultra-high CPU frequency, 1 TB of storage space, and twice the image processing power of the regular PS4. The extra memory also makes PSVR perform better.

In our PS4 Pro review, we wrote: “PS4 Pro is a high-end machine that provides developers with additional performance support. But at the moment, even if you have a high-quality 4K screen, the performance of PS4 Pro is not good enough. It’s not very attractive to ordinary PS4 users either.”

twenty four.

Following the success of the NES remaster and SNES remaster, Sony also announced its own PS1 remaster. The console has the same exterior design as the original and comes with two original PS1 controllers (no analog sticks).

While the remastered system itself is satisfying, the classic games are decidedly underplayable. This machine only comes with 20 built-in games, and no more games can be added or downloaded later. Although classics such as "Final Fantasy 7", "Grand Theft Auto" and "Metal Gear" have been included, more players still want more games.

In our review, we wrote: “The PS is more of a half-hearted replica than a sincere tribute to the groundbreaking original console. Among the 20 pre-installed games, many great hits seem to be missing. . In addition, with the advancement of time and technology, the graphics of many early 3D games no longer look so good today, and the PS controller only supports wired digital connections, making many of these games difficult to operate by modern standards. "

25.5

The PS5 has finally been unveiled, with both standard and digital versions available. Sony claims that the gaming experience on both machines is exactly the same.

Sony has previously announced to us the shape of the PS5 controller, saying that the controller "will bring some tactility to the PS5 gaming experience."

The handle will have vibration feedback and adaptive trigger keys to help players "feel the tension of the action, such as the moment when an arrow is tense on the string." The Share button on 4 will be replaced by a new Create button, and relevant information will be disclosed in the future.

PS5, unlike Sony’s previous hardware and controllers, boldly adopts a two-tone design.

Sony has announced the specific parameters of PS5:

CPU: Customized version of AMD Zen 2 microarchitecture 8 cores 16 threads clock frequency 3.5 GHz (variable frequency)

GPU: Customized version of AMD RDNA 2 microarchitecture 36 compute units clock frequency 2.23 GHz (variable frequency)

Floating point operation speed 10.28, supports ray tracing

Video memory: 16 GB GDDR6/256-bit

Memory bandwidth: 448 GB/s

Storage space: Customized 825 GB SSD solid state drive

IO throughput: 5.5 GB/s (raw data), 8-9 GB/s (compressed data)

Expandable storage: NVMe SSD bay

External storage: supports USB external HDD hard drive

Optical drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray player

The specific release date and price of this next-generation console have not yet been announced.

However, many masterpieces such as "Horizon: Forbidden West", "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales", "Resident Evil 8", and "Demon's Souls" have been confirmed to be launched on PS5, and more information will be released soon. Revealed.

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