Sony won’t be at E3 2019, but fans are still hoping to learn key PS5 news during 2019.
And this would mean a couple of things being revealed, including the PlayStation 5 price, the release date, and what changes are being planned for the PS Plus subscription service.
One interesting development that has been catching the eye of fans is not connected to the PS5 being at E3 2019, but another company.
It’s already been established that AMD will be supplying key hardware for the PlayStation 5 launch.
And while PlayStation will have no major presence at E3, the company producing the chips for the PS5 will.
It’s unlikely that anything directly connected to Sony’s next console will be revealed during AMD’s Next Horizon Gaming conference at E3.
But there’s a chance it will offer a little taste of what might be coming from Sony in the future.
Here’s the official press release from the company, covering their plans for E3 2019: “AMD today announced it will hold an event and live stream during E3 2019 in Los Angeles, California to unveil the next generation of AMD gaming products.
“Hosted by The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley, AMD “Next Horizon Gaming” will be held at The Novo at L.A. Live on Monday, June 10, 2019, at 3 p.m. PT.
“At Next Horizon Gaming, AMD president and CEO Dr. Lisa Su will present to a live and global streaming audience details about upcoming products and technologies that will power gaming from PC to console to cloud for years to come.
“The event will also feature appearances by leading game developers who will provide exclusive looks at some of the most anticipated new titles of the year.”
The price of the new PS5 console is also something that could shape how well it sells in key markets around the globe.
The good news is that Mark Cerny, an architect behind the PS4 and someone involved in the development of the PS5, has made it clear Sony understands the importance of the price tag.
He revealed during a recent interview with Wired that Sony PlayStation plans to release their next console with an appealing price tag, in light of its advanced feature set.
But other recent rumours have suggested that the PS5 could cost more than the PS4 did at launch. A $500 price tag has been suggested, something that would no doubt affect initial sales.
The specs sheet will look to impress, but it’s hard to tell at this point if Sony will really risk upping the price, following the problems the PS3 had.
One analyst believes they are willing to brave that peril, with Ace Research Institute analyst Hideki Yasuda quoted as backing a $499 price tag for the new console (via BGR).
There are also reports that claim Sony will release a new Premium version of PS Plus alongside the launch of their next console.
This would allegedly launch before the PS5 but would also play a role in boosting revenue for the PlayStation Network ecosystem.
The report was allegedly the work of an “EU based game developer” who claims to know about the next-gen device.
From what has been shared so far, PS Plus Premium would include guaranteed early access to games, as well as provide a private server for the user.
However, it’s unclear just what kind of features this would unlock for an average gamer, and what it would be compatible with.
There is also the question of price, which is a major piece of information not shared by the insider.
This new service would run parallel with the existing PlayStation Plus service, meaning fans wouldn’t need to upgrade.
And this is important as a “Premium” service will no doubt cost more to use.
This report did get it right that Sony would share information about their new console before E3 2019.
However, until the tech giant is ready to confirm all the significant details about the PS5, everything we see and hear will remain reports and speculation.
It may not come during E3 2019, but fans are hopeful that big PS5 will be revealed later this year by Sony.
