Sony ushered in their next-generation console on November 12th, 2019 (and November 19th in other territories). Launching alongside it was a slew of cross-generation titles and a handful of exclusives, most notably Demon's Souls. However, like all console launches users are experiencing several problems while just trying trying to enjoy their new games and the console's features.
Some of the issues listed below are minor, while several have potentially devastating consequences for those who just invested five hundred dollars in a new system. All in all, however, no problem as bad as the Xbox 360's red ring of death or the early PS2's two year lifespan has popped up yet.
10 Folders
Why would a feature prominent on both prior consoles suddenly be absent from the new machine? Perhaps Sony thought it would be easy enough to find the games one wants to play with how the UI is designed. It is a lot easier to sort through one's library, but many still want the ability to divvy up their games into separate folders for a more personalized collection. Surely it cannot be too much work to add this feature in an update.
9 Wallpapers
With the new UI also comes the elimination of wallpapers. Players are no longer able to customize the way their startup menu looks like while searching for a game or going towards another app. It kind of makes sense, since each game has its own screen and the explore tab hopes to intrigue gamers with new releases. However, taking away wallpapers cannot help but feel like a step back. Give gamers the choice of a wallpaper.
8 Emailing Screenshots And Videos
As of now, sharing screenshots is relegated to a few applications, including Twitter. If one wants to take the actual file, they have to put it onto a USB stick. Would it be impossible to email the screenshot or video as an application? It would go a long way towards helping content creators or anybody who wants to use their gameplay for whatever purpose. If not email, then perhaps some other way of saving them to be accessed easily from a computer.
7 Confusion Between PS4 And PS5 Version Downloads
One problem many gamers have run into is accidentally downloading the PlayStation 4 version of a game when they wanted the new edition. Many of this season's biggest titles, like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, are cross-generation, and many own both versions after one purchase. The system really needs to make it more clear which version of the game players are downloading when they initiate it.
6 Crashes
This problem is not plaguing all PlayStation 5 owners, but enough are reporting it to raise eyebrows. The system and several games tend to crash. Most notably, Demon's Souls has a chance of going kaput when entering the Nexus.
While this is most likely a problem with the game and not the console, it is the system's essential launch title, so both Sony and Bluepoint should have made sure such an issue never occurred in the first place.
5 Scalpers
This is a problem that, sadly, will only be solved with time as supply comes to meet demand. In the meantime, those who have yet to purchase one need to resist paying more to these scalpers just to get a console early. They have no power if no one wants to buy from them. The same goes for parents who want to make their child's holiday particularly special. Explain to them it is sold out and promise to buy it once it is more readily available.
4 Front USB
One weird issue some owners have reported is the front USB not charging the controller when in rest mode.
It can be particularly annoying to leave the DualSense in there overnight only to find a nearly dead battery upon playing again. Hopefully this issue can be fixed without needing a new console. In the meantime, just charge the DualSense using a different source. It is mild inconvenience compared to other problems.
3 External Hard Drives
One of the main causes of technical issues most gamers are reporting has to do with the external hard drives. Apparently, using one can cause all types of problems, including crashes. For the time being, it is best to eschew using one and just going with the space inside the PS5's SSD. PS5 games can only be used on the SSD, anyway. It is just a shame it now has to fight for space with PS4 backward compatible games too.
2 Size
This is unfortunately something people will have to wait years to see remedied. For some, the PS5 is just too darn big. It does not even fit in some media centers. The PS4 pro is a sizable beast, but even it pales in comparison to Sony's newest monster. Those wishing for something smaller will likely have to wait several years for a mini iteration to come out as components naturally get smaller. Don't take a PS5 mini for granted, however; there is always a chance it never comes.
1 SSD Expansions
At the moment, Sony has not approved any SSD expansions, nor will any known one work on the console. Players have to contend with what they have in their console now to fit games onto. It is not nothing, but those who play several live service games simultaneously will find their space filling up fast. Microsoft has their own expansion cards people can buy, so Sony should catch up with them sooner rather than later.