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The fifth time is a charm
This November, Sony will launch its long-awaited PlayStation 5 console. The PS5 was first announced last year, and while there were concerns that the global pandemic would delay launch, Sony has been able to prepare its new console in time for the season of Christmas shopping.
The PS5 is much more powerful than the PS4 and PlayStation 4 Pro, with a larger computer processing unit, a graphics processing unit, and a solid-state drive. At first, the graphical differences between the PS5 and PS4 may seem subtle compared to the jump in graphics between the PS2 and PS3. However, over time, as developers take advantage of the higher clock speeds of new hardware and improved teraflops, the gap between the PS4 and the PS5 will widen.
Sony will initially release two versions of the PlayStation 5: the base version with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drive and a slightly less expensive digital-only version.
Slated to launch on November 12 in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, the PS5 is priced at ¥ 54,978 and the digital edition at ¥ 43,978. But unless you already have a pre-order or are entering a lottery, getting a PS5 at launch won’t be easy.
bit.ly/ps5-jp (Japanese); bit.ly/ps5-en (English)
Xbox gets serious
Sony isn’t the only company releasing new hardware this month; Microsoft is too. The US-based tech giant is launching Xbox Series X and Series S.
What is the difference between the two new consoles? Well, Series X is the most powerful Xbox to date. It’s almost twice the size of the S Series, with an Ultra HD Blu-ray drive; larger CPU specs; nearly double the onboard storage; and significantly better GPU power, with the X Series producing 12 teraflops compared to 4 teraflops in the digital-only S Series. That extra power will come in handy as this generation of consoles progresses, allowing the X Series to handle big games with greater ease.
The difference between the X and S Series is notable, but so are the price points. With the S Series, Microsoft offers a welcome bridge at an affordable price to gamers who want to jump to next-gen consoles.
Scheduled to launch on November 10, Xbox Series S costs ¥ 32,978, while Xbox Series X is ¥ 54,978.
bit.ly/xboxseries-jp (Japanese); bit.ly/xboxseries-en (English)
Musical memories
The Kingdom Hearts series is known for its memorable characters, fun gameplay, and fabulous graphics. Not to mention the excellent soundtrack. It’s no wonder Square Enix is releasing a rhythmic action game, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, the fourteenth installment in the series.
With over 140 tracks, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a scrolling rhythm game in which players fight their way through each “show,” attacking enemies while trying to set the correct rhythmic rhythm. Fans of Kingdom Hearts games should feel right at home with the controls, but they have a musical twist here. There are also different levels of difficulty and playstyles, including a simple playstyle that only requires a single button, as well as a more complicated setup that adds complicated patterns and more enemies. There is also a cooperative mode for those who want to play with a friend.
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory will be released on November 11. Priced at ¥ 7,480, it’s coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
bit.ly/melodymemory-jp (Japanese); bit.ly/melodymemory-en (English)
