Innovation and immersion seems to be the two things Sony's pushing for with the release of the new PS5, and honestly, it's got us pretty excited. Knowing from experience that not all features are used to market and sell a console contributes to enhancing the gameplay experience.
It's a harsh truth, but some of the features are just gimmicks. Take the DualShock 4's
touchpad, for example. Gaming on the PS4 would not be any different if the
touchpad never existed.
Cost
The only thing it has going for is that it didn't cost gamers anything extra, so it
doesn't garner ill will from the community. Suppose the touchpad had bumped up
the price of the PS4 by a noticeable margin while still being a gimmick. It would
have been as hated as the dumpster fire that was the Kinect.
Features
Unfortunately,
we can't tell which of the many new features Sony is developers will use
advertising. The folks at Sony might not know either. The haptic capabilities
of the dual sound's controllers sound incredible. Still, we wouldn't be
surprised if developers ignored this feature when making a game set to release
on all gaming platforms.
Potential of 3D Audio
Nevertheless,
of all the new features the next console generation is promising, we feel 3D
Audio has the most potential and is most likely to deliver on all of its
promises. That's why we'd like to take this opportunity to break down what
exactly this new 3D Audio feature is? How does it work? And what you will need
to make use of it? So, without any further ado, let's begin,
What is PS5 3D Audio?
To
tackle 3D Audio in a new and exciting way, Sony has developed a proprietary
audio engine called Tempest. It is a re-engineered AMD graphics chip
that has repurposed to deliver immersive object-based sound.
What Exactly Does This Mean For Us?
The
users' crux is that 3D Audio can realistically simulate hundreds of sound
sources in a 3D environment. It should allow gamers to determine the exact
point that a sound is coming from with minute precision. The result is similar
to how surround sound works only in terms of immersion, and precision 3D Audio is
supposed to leave Dolby powered surround sound in the dust.
HRTF
With
the HRTF algorithm's help, this is all achieved, which stands for the Head-Related
Transfer Function. A complicated name that can describe in a relatively
simple way as it works. Namely, just by adding subtle alterations to the audio
signal, the listener's brain is tricked into perceiving where the sound is
coming from, but hearing is believing right. So, check it out for yourself.
How does It work?
A very famous example of how this works is the virtual barbershop video released 13
years ago on YouTube and has over 30 million views. We highly suggest you check
it out if you want to get a taste of what you can expect from 3D Audio.
It hadn't
made using the tempest engine itself. It didn't even exist back then, but the
basic idea is the same. Even with regular stereo headphones, you can expect
quite an immersive experience. Now imagine that level of audio immersion in PS5
titles. It's a game-changer.
PS5 A Game Changer
Even
games that aren't genuine works of wonder as far as the graphics are concerned
will still be able to pull gamers into their world and immerse them through
audio and let's not even get into how this will enhance VR gaming. But that's
just for casual gaming experiences. We don't need to tell you how this will
affect a player's online multiplayer landscape with access to Audio? This
precise will have a tangible advantage over players who don't or can't take
advantage of 3D Audio. Speaking of which, what exactly do you need to make
use of this cool new feature? Sony has already showcased the new Pulse
3D Headset but is this peripheral mandatory?
Audio equipment needed
The short answer is NO. The long answer depends on your wants and needs.
When the console launches, the Pulse 3D headset will likely be the only headset
on the market capable of fully taking advantage of the PS5 3D Audio.
Accessibility of Sony
However,
Sony has stated that they wish to make ti feature accessible to everyone. There
likely won't be any other headsets that can handle 3D Audio and the Pulse 3D when
the PS5 launches. We're sure to get third-party headsets that are just as
capable in this regard down the line.
Benefits Of 3D Audio
But
here's the best part you won't require to game with headphones of any kind to
reap the benefits of 3D Audio. Soundbars surround setups, and even your average
stereo TV speakers will all sound more immersive on the PS5.
Grand
edition, you shouldn't expect the Audio to be as immersive when using stereo
speakers and soundbars as when you're using headphones and surround setups. But
it's nice that all users will get some benefits of 3D Audio. And that's why we
said the short answer to this question is NO.
Choice is Yours
No, you
won't have to buy the pulse 3D headphones to make use of 3D Audio. You won't
have to use any headphones whatsoever, for that matter, but when the PS5 launches,
this headphone will be the only peripheral those looking for the most immersive
gaming experience will turn. Whether it's worth it or not will be up to you,
but it won't be mandatory.
Conclusion
That's
all you need to know about the new 3D Audio that the PS5 will utilize. In terms
of the potential for immersion, it's an immense step forward from consoles'
current generation. But as for whether developers will take full advantage of
it, only time will tell.
Nevertheless,
we don't think 3D Audio dismissed when deciding on which console to get. Out of
all of the new features coming to the PS5, this one is the most promising. If
nothing else, we can't wait to see what first-party developers will make of it.