The PlayStation 5 is an enchanting and distinctive piece of {hardware}, and whereas we’ve already heard some particulars concerning the creation of the system, it’s at all times enjoyable to listen to extra. Fortunately, system architect Mark Cerny has offered simply that in a brand new video for Wired, which you’ll take a look at for your self, offered you’ve round quarter-hour to spare.
Cerny touches on numerous subjects we’ve already heard about – the PS5’s GPU, controller, 3D audio, ect. – however he additionally reveals some attention-grabbing new particulars. When discussing the PS5’s solid-state-drive, which has been pushed as one of many core options of the machine, Cerny revealed that it was Epic’s Tim Sweeney that pushed hardest for the brand new tech.
We might been getting requests for an SSD all the best way again to PlayStation 4. Specifically, Tim Sweeney, who’s the visionary founding father of Epic Video games, he stated onerous drives have been holding the business again. He did not say onerous drives although, he stated, “rusty spinning media.” […] Builders requested for an NVME SSD with not less than 1 GB/s of learn velocity. And we checked out that and we determined to go possibly 5 to 10 occasions that velocity. It is at all times good to have a excessive goal there.
Apparently, Cerny additionally particularly calls out Epic’s new Unreal Engine 5 Nanite know-how, which will depend on the SSD to stream high-quality belongings to video games. It actually does seem to be the PS5 was, to a sure diploma, designed across the calls for of Epic and Unreal Engine 5. The truth that the engine was first proven on the PS5 was greater than only a PR stunt.
Cerny touches on just a few different topics he hasn’t actually detailed earlier than, together with the PS5’s “invisible compression,” which is what builders are utilizing to scale back PS5 file sizes. Many assumed the extra environment friendly SSD was the reason for the smaller information, however no, it’s only a very environment friendly compression system constructed into the PS5’s Built-in I/O. In case you’d wish to get extra attention-grabbing little tidbits like this, do take a look at Mark Cerny’s full dialogue.
Round a 12 months into the PlayStation 5 period, what are your ideas on the design of the system?
