The PlayStation 5 will support an 8K resolution, Sony has confirmed. The PS5 will be capable of running games in the highest possible high-resolution setting, labeled Full Ultra HD, a big step up from the PS4 Pro’s 4K resolution.
While 8K hasn’t become a common standard, meaning that most homes are still equipped with either a 1080p or 4K TV on which to play their games, Sony is setting the bar high with its PS5. In an interview with Wired, the PS4’s lead architect Mark Cerny unveiled a low-speed prototype for the PS5, showcasing what the upcoming console will be capable of. In the interview, Wired noted that the console was capable of 8K graphics, “TVs that deliver it are few and far between, so we’re using a 4K TV.”
It was previously speculated that the PS5 would be capable of outputting at an 8K resolution, though Sony hadn’t confirmed these rumors. Elsewhere in the feature, it was confirmed that the CPU is “based on the third generation of AMD’s Ryzen line and contains eight cores of the company’s new 7nm Zen 2 microarchitecture.” The GPU is a custom variant of Radeon’s Navi family, and will also support ray tracing.
The AMD chip will also allow for more dynamic audio, with Sony looking to improve the “presence” of its games. While this audio will improve the sound of PS5 games through external/TV speakers, those using headphones will still be privy to the “gold standard” of game audio.
Elsewhere in the interview, Sony also hinted at a two-platform release for Death Stranding meaning that it could launch on both the PS4 and PS5, discussed backwards compatibility with the PS4, and stated that current PSVR headsets will be compatible with the upcoming console. Though no launch date has been confirmed for the console, we should expect to hear more later this year.
