The PS5 arrived in November 2020, when players were trying to get hold of a new console during the pandemic and stock disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. Sony sold a disc version and a less expensive digital version. The machine looked enormous beside a PS4, but its speed was obvious the first time a game loaded.

Lead architect Mark Cerny put the custom solid state drive at the center of the design. In Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, a portal can throw Ratchet into another world without an old fashioned loading screen. Fast travel and restarts feel similarly brisk in many games, though the benefit depends on how each game is built.

Astro's Playroom gives the DualSense a proper introduction. A surface can feel coarse under Astro's feet, rain taps through the controller, and the triggers push back as you draw a bow. Returnal uses those triggers to make a half press and a full press do different jobs. These effects are at their best when a developer gives them a purpose in play.

Demon's Souls, Returnal, Astro Bot, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 give the system a strong selection of games. Much of the early library also appeared on PS4, so the step between generations was uneven. The original PS5 needs a generous shelf, and choosing a digital model commits you to downloads. The Slim reduces the space problem; the Pro offers extra visual headroom at a higher price. The PS5 earns its place most convincingly when its quick storage and controller are doing more than shortening a wait.

All of these revisions play the PS5 game library. Pick a model by disc support, space, and how much you value the Pro's visual upgrades.

Sony also made themed shells and bundles, including a gray 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro and Slim that echo the first PlayStation. They change the look, not the games the system can play.

Retro Replay scores each category on a 10-point scale. We rate the hardware and library as they stand today, with the launch model as the baseline.

These are the original PS5 specifications. Storage capacity and graphics performance differ on later models.

Japan and North America: November 12, 2020. Europe: November 19, 2020.