The time has finally come for Sony to unveil the official PS5 price and release date – and, we have to say, it’s about time.
While the company has been slowly drip-feeding us details on the PS5 specs, games, peripherals, and features, there’s still some key information we don’t know yet. For one, we don’t know when the PS5 will launch outside of its confirmed “Holiday 2020” release window (although our money is on November).
But arguably, most importantly, we don’t know how much the PlayStation 5 – or the PS5 Digital Edition – will cost at launch, or when pre-orders will open.
In addition, we still don’t know what the PS5 games launch lineup will look like, nor have we had a look at the overhauled PlayStation interface.
Fortunately, we’re expecting Sony to tie up most (if not all) of these loose ends in just a few hours, during its PS5 Showcase which kicks off at 9pm BST / 1pm PT / 4pm ET (September 17 at 6am AEST).
We’ll be following along all the PS5 Showcase action live right here, including expert commentary and opinion.
Want to watch the stream alongside our live commentary, then check out our handy guide on how to watch the PlayStation 5 Showcase.
PS5 event live blog
All times in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
11:30am – While there have been concerns that PS5 stock could be limited at launch, Sony has shot down rumors of possible console shortages.
A report by Bloomberg – seemingly corroborated by insider sources – suggested that Sony had downsized production by several million units, due to manufacturing issues around a key processor.
However, Sony has explicitly denied the report, telling GamesIndustry.biz that “We have not changed the production number for PlayStation 5 since the start of mass production.”
Sony added: “While we do not release details related to manufacturing, the information provided by Bloomberg is false.”
You can read the full story here.
11:00am – We’re also expecting Sony to reveal when PS5 pre-orders will go live during today’s stream. We already know that Xbox Series X/S pre-orders go live on September 22, but a recent ‘leak’ from a French retailer suggests that Sony could beat Microsoft to the punch in that department.
French retailer Fnac has apparently released in-store marketing stating that the PS5 is “available to pre-order”. Images of the in-store marketing being put up today were posted by internet users and spotted by French publication Frandroid (via GamesRadar), with some images showing posters inside stores that cite the PS5 is “available to pre-order” while smaller notices claim the console will release in November – as predicted.
Considering we’re expecting to get official confirmation of the PS5 price, release date and pre-order information during today’s event, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if PS5 pre-orders did go live shortly after the showcase. However, as with any ‘leak’, we should treat this with a healthy dose of speculation – after all, it’s not long until Sony (hopefully) sets the record straight.
You can read the full story here.
10:30am – We are already expecting Sony to have some surprises up its sleeve this evening, but could we be seeing the official unveiling of a God of War 2 on PS5?
Well, God of War director Cory Barlog has got tongues wagging ahead of the PS5 event that this could be the case, as he has changed his Twitter avatar to (what seems to be) a close-up image of some type of stone, while his header image has changed to a close-up of Latin text.
However, this could simply be a wind-up by Barlog rather than an actual tease, especially given that the director has a habit of doing this sort of thing. But, given than there’s been rumors of a new God of War in the pipeline for some time – focused on Ragnarok – we wouldn’t be surprised if Sony did unveil the long-awaited sequel later today.
Do you want to see a new God of War today? Let us know on Twitter.
Are you going to flip your axe if we get a God of War reveal during today’s #PS5Showcase?September 16, 2020
10:15am – Wondering what time the PS5 Showcase is kicking off in your region? Check out our list:
Hello, 🌍. Here’s what time the #PlayStation5 event happens in your neighborhood. 1pm Vancouver🇨🇦3pm Bogota🇨🇴4pm NYC🇺🇸5pm Rio de Janeiro🇧🇷9pm London🇬🇧10pm Cairo🇪🇬11pm Riyadh🇸🇦1:30am New Delhi🇮🇳3am Bangkok🇹🇭4am Beijing🇨🇳5am Tokyo🇯🇵6am Sydney🇦🇺September 16, 2020
10:00am – It’s worth noting Sony hasn’t actually confirmed it’ll reveal the PS5 price and release date today – but we’ll be extremely surprised if it doesn’t, considering how closer we’re getting to that “Holiday 2020” release window.
What Sony has confirmed, though, is that the PS5 Showcase will “feature updates on the latest titles from Worldwide Studios and our world-class development partners”, meaning that we’re going to be getting some updates on previously confirmed PS5 games, which may include the likes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West – and we’re expecting the company to finally unveil the PS5 launch line-up.
In addition to these confirmed titles, we’re also expecting some potential surprise announcements for unconfirmed PS5 games, with rumors pointing to a Silent Hill reboot reveal.
But what else would we like to see? TechRadar’s Executive Editor, Gerald Lynch, says: “I’ve been focussed this week on all things Oculus, what with today’s Facebook Connect event set to land with some big announcements. Virtual reality is back on the map, so I’d love to see Sony offer some more details on what to expect from PlayStation VR as we enter into the next generation hardware race.”
9:00am – As we said, we’re also expecting Sony to finally unveil the PS5 release date later today. So far, the company has only confirmed that the PS5 will release in “Holiday 2020” (between October and December) but hasn’t narrowed down this window any further.
Despite this, we’re expecting the PS5 to release sometime in November as, historically, that’s when we have seen Sony release new consoles – and it would leave time before Christmas to get those orders in.
A report by VGC back in August, claimed that the PS5 will likely release in mid-November and that Sony has booked “significant marketing spend” for the week of November 13 (a Friday), with sources claiming that a launch during that window would fit with their expectations. Considering the same report correctly predicted the Xbox Series X to release in the first week of November, we’re inclined to believe it.
Releasing in this time period would allow the PS5 to launch alongside upcoming AAA titles such as Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077, and Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War which are all due to release in November, and could pad out the console’s currently quiet launch window while also avoiding the launch being lost in the shuffle of Black Friday – which falls two weeks later.
8:00am – Have you got your sights set on the PS5 Digital Edition? Or will your decision depend on what the standard PS5 price is? Let us know on Twitter.
Any @PlayStation fans with their 💙 set on the PS5 Digital Edition? #PS5ShowcaseSeptember 16, 2020
7:30am – So what are we expecting from the PS5 Showcase today? Probably the most important information we’re expecting from the PS5 Showcase is an official confirmation of the PS5 price and release date – as well as information on PS5 pre-orders.
We’re predicting the PS5 to be around $499, with the PS5 Digital Edition potentially coming in at $399 – but, considering Sony has emphasized “value” over “price” when it comes to next-gen, that could be wishful thinking.
Microsoft has already laid its cards on the table, revealing the Xbox Series X price to be $499 / £449 / AU$749 (while the digital-only Xbox Series S comes in at $299 / £249 / AU$499). That could be tough for Sony to beat, especially with Microsoft’s Xbox All Access programme offering the flagship console for monthly finance plan of $35 per month.
TechRadar’s Senior Entertainment Editor, Samuel Roberts, says: “I think the base unit of the PS5 can afford to be slightly more expensive than the Xbox Series X, but my guess is we’ll see an identical price on the PS5 – $499/£449, as not to break that $500 barrier. That’s $100 more than the PS4, which is reasonable to me, but still less than the PS3’s astronomical $599 launch price.
“I assume the all-digital version will come in $50-100 below that. To me, Sony has the edge on Microsoft simply through the sheer weight of its exclusives – Xbox has played its hand already, and most of its best-looking games (Fable, Avowed) seem like they’re years away. Sony will have a new Spider-Man game in your home this holiday season. That’s a powerful incentive to buy that Microsoft can’t match, now that Halo Infinite has slipped to next year – and even if Sony does put its console above the $500 barrier, early adopters won’t mind paying that.
“Long term, it might be a different story – we’re in an economically uncertain time. But Sony is in an unprecedented place with the appeal of its exclusive software. The electronics giant worked out, during this past generation, that this is how you define your console’s identity to players at a time when people are becoming more and more agnostic to how they enjoy games. In terms of game predictions, I expect new looks at every major exclusive revealed at the June Showcase event: Spider-Man, Horizon, Returnal, Gran Turismo 7. I’m also prepared to believe that there’s enough smoke around these Silent Hill reboot rumors that there has to be fire this time. Let’s see!”
7:00am – Hello and welcome to TechRadar’s PS5 Showcase live blog! The time has finally come. It seemed like it never would. It became somewhat of an urban myth – the myth that one day Sony would reveal the PS5 price and release date. But it’s actually (hopefully) happening.
After months of speculation, ‘leaks’, and rumors, Sony will be hosting the PS5 Showcase in just a few hours – where we’re expecting the company to finally give us these key pieces of information – alongside updates on confirmed (and unconfirmed) PS5 games.
Luckily for you, here at TechRadar we’ll be following the 40-minute showcase live, providing expert commentary and opinion. Make sure you check out our handy guide on how to watch the PlayStation 5 Showcase, so you can watch the stream alongside this live blog.
Alternatively, you can watch our special reaction stream where our US Computing Editor, Bill Thomas, Senior Computing Editor, Matt Hanson, and Video Producer, Matt Phillips will be reacting live to all the news as it happens. So much choice!
[embedded content]