Sony’s huge PS5 FAQ has some surprising new details and confirmations

No folders or themes at launch, no dedicated web browser app, and no region-locked games, among other PlayStation 5 tidbits

With new PlayStation 5 details coming to light as media embargoes are partially being lifted, there was a lot to talk about last week, and there will be even more to say this week. Early impressions are favorable, but when it comes to super nitty-gritty details, there’s bound to be some disappointment.

Sony painted a clearer picture of the PS5 today with an FAQ detailing “everything you want to know.” If you have a random unanswered question, this post is your best bet – at least for the time being.

These are the confirmations, revelations, and reiterations that stood out to me.

• According to Sony, you can’t transfer PS5 games to a USB drive. “PS5 games must be stored on the console’s internal ultra-high speed SSD for gameplay. Explorations for allowing players to store (but not play) PS5 games on a USB drive in a future update are underway.”
• “On day one, you’ll be able to connect a compatible USB drive and use it to store and play your PS4 games. You’ll be able to play PS4 games while they remain stored on the external device.”
• “For now, we recommend that you hold off on purchasing any M.2 SSD drives intended for use with PS5.”
• “Will every PS5 game benefit from 3D Audio? Yes. Even simple channel-based audio will have additional dimensionality thanks to PS5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech.”
• “Supported resolutions are 720p, 1080i, 1080p, and 2160p. PS5 can output resolutions up to 2160p (4K UHD) when connected to a 4K display.”
• “PS5 is compatible with 8K displays at launch, and after a future system software update will be able to output resolutions up to 8K when content is available, with supported software.”
• “Input latency has been optimized on the DualSense wireless controller compared to the DualShock 4 wireless controller.”
• “PS5 players will be able to reduce or disable the force of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Players can also remap buttons on the controller.”
• “Under most conditions, [the DualSense’s] battery life is expected to be similar to the DualShock 4 wireless controller. Recharging time when connected to PS5 or the DualSense Charging Station is estimated at approximately three hours.”
• “In the future, other [DualSense] colors will become available.”
• PS5 games are not region-locked.
• “The majority of legacy PS4 demos and betas will not be playable on PS5. Moving forward, however, new demos and betas will be playable on the PS5.”
• “Is there a particular type of USB drive I should use for storing PS4 games for play on my PS5? Use a SuperSpeed USB or faster (USB 3.0 or later) storage drive with 250 GB minimum and 8 TB maximum capacity, formatted for exFAT (note: PS5 can format a connected compatible USB drive for exFAT). Devices with a faster specification may result in shorter load times for PS4 games stored on the drive.”
• “The ability to transfer game saves between a PS4 version and a PS5 version of the same game is a developer decision and will vary title by title for cross-generational games.”
• “Does PS5 support 3D Blu-ray movies? No, 3D stereoscopic output is not supported on PS5.”
• “USB and Bluetooth keyboards and mice are supported at a system level, though game developers will decide whether to support at a game level.”
• “PS5 will not support folders or themes at launch.”
• “PS Store on PS5 is now fully integrated into the system with lightning-fast browsing and a simplified, smarter layout that makes it easy to find the right game.”
• “Spotify will be supported at launch, enabling music playback, including as in-game background music. Players can also listen to music from a USB drive, including MP3, FLAC, and AAC formats.”
• “PS5 automatically captures the past 60 minutes of your gameplay at 1080p resolution. 4K resolution is also available if you manually record your gameplay using the Create button.”
• “No, the PS5 system doesn’t include a dedicated web browser app.”
• “We’re updating PS4’s Remote Play feature. Now, in addition to being able to access your PS4 from a PC or a mobile device, your PS4 can access other consoles via Remote Play too, right on your TV. This includes the ability to connect to your PS5 and stream a PS5 game to your PS4 so you can play it there.”

There are lingering topics – I’ve seen concerns about the PS5’s current lack of VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) and Dolby Vision/Atmos support, among other blanks that need to be filled in – but this is a start.

Sony says it intends to update the PS5 FAQ with more information “in the future.”

PS5: The Ultimate FAQ [PlayStation Blog]