In a typical console release, the first model stands on its own for a least a year or two before a new option, usually a slim or pro version, is introduced to the market. However, it looks like the PlayStation 5 could be taking a different route. It's unheard of for a console to get a redesign a mere seven months after its release, but anyone who has been following this console generation knows PS5s have been difficult to obtain. Seven months after its release, people are still struggling to get their hands on one.
That's why Sony seems to be working on a minor redesign to the console, moving from a 5nm CPU to a customized 6nm CPU from AMD. To be clear, hardly anything will change with the redesign, as the purpose is simply to switch towards components that are a little more available. In the wake of a global semiconductor shortage, some adjustments need to be made. Consoles undergo these types of changes all the time with fans hardly noticing, so it's nothing to write home about and nobody's PS5 is becoming outdated, but if the PS5 is getting a new model anytime soon, there are a few other design elements that could be adjusted.
The PS5 Could Stand To Be A Little Smaller
By far the biggest design complaint about the PS5 is its size. In its upright position, the console stands at over 15 inches tall. In other words, it's huge. Most standard entertainment systems don't have a great place for it, and it doesn't exactly blend into living room decor- unless the living room in question looks like a space station.
Most gamers who enjoy consoles like for them to be more compact and not clash with the decor in their homes. With the PS5, it's not really an option. It's huge, and the silhouette is the most dramatic out of any other console. Even on its side, it takes up a ton of space and the shape isn't as appealing. The PS5 doesn't have a terrible design, of course, but it's not subtle in the slightest.
There could be a PS5 Slim version in the future, but there's no confirmation of that and who knows how much smaller it would end up being. If the PS5 gets a redesign, it would be great if Sony could figure out a way to make it a little smaller and more subtle. Not everyone wants their PS5 to be a statement piece.
Making the PS5 smaller might come with a few other sacrifices, such as the system's cooling component that keeps it so quiet. But for those who can't buy a new entertainment station big enough to accommodate their PS5 or for those who play with a desk setup, a more reasonable size is definitely needed to allow players to easily add the PS5 to their space and to ensure the console has enough room for decent airflow.
The PS5's UI Needs To Be More Organized
One of the ways the PS5 is actually worse than the PS4 is the UI. The PS4 UI was highly customizable, allowing players to select their own backgrounds and themes as well as organize their games into folders. For gamers with dozens of games, organizing them into folders was incredibly useful and allowed players to navigate their system the way they wanted to.
On the PS5, there is no such option. The home page shows the most recent apps that have been opened, but to access the entire library of games players have to go to the library and scroll endlessly to find what they're looking for. The games aren't even sorted alphabetically, so it can take an unnecessary amount of time to find the right app.
Share Play is also significantly more difficult on the PS5. For those who enjoy chatting and playing with friends, the PS4 only required a player to start a party and invite their friends to it. From there, all of the Share Play options were easily accessible. On the PS5, however, players have to go to "Game Base," a term that isn't intuitive to begin with, begin a voice chat with their friend even if they don't want to voice chat, view the voice chat, and then can share the screen from there. Playing with a friend via Share Play adds another step to the process, making it overall very cumbersome.
Of course, the UI could be redesigned without redesigning the whole look of the console, and it would be simple enough to send out a patch or system update as Sony has already done several times. But while a redesign is being discussed, the confusing UI should be addressed as well. It's also worth mentioning that some of the confusion transfers to the external console, with the power and eject buttons being impossible to distinguish between without just remembering which one is which.
A PS5 Redesign Could Come With External Customization Options
When it initially revealed the console, Sony shocked the world by moving from the traditional black design to a bold white. Not everyone was in love with the design at first, but it was certainly striking. When players discovered that the large white plates on either side of the console could be easily removed, it sparked a whole discussion about PS5 customization that resulted in several works of art.
Some players have customized their PS5s by hydro-dipping the plates, painting them, or decorating with stickers. The white canvas is perfect for artistic expression, assuming one is bold enough to risk messing up. But players were interested in the idea of buying custom plates for their PS5 to customize the look of it, much like people customize their phone cases now. It's a fantastic idea, and oddly, it's one that Sony hasn't cashed in on.
PS5s are still in short supply, so it's possible that it's just not a priority at the moment. But a PS5 redesign could bring cutomization options to life, and the possibilities are endless. For those who want their console to blend into their home a little better, they could choose a subtle plate with a woodgrain pattern, for example. For others who want to show their support for a favorite game, Sony could release custom plates with its major game launches.
Some third-party manufacturers have created customized plates, but a couple of them have received legal threats from Sony. Those ultimately didn't hold up, so players who really want a customized plate can certainly find them or just order more traditional skins, but it would be nice to see Sony take advantage of the possibility and create some themed ones. There are black and red DualSense controllers coming out soon, so maybe that's the first step in the right direction.
Internally, The PS5 Is A Great System With a Few Shortcomings
As trivial as it might seem, the main thing holding the PS5 back is its visual appeal. Although the XSX is a stronger console when it comes to hardware and performance capabilities, the PS5 holds its ground and doesn't need any major improvements with a redesign. Since launch, it's had no major technical issues and has received a lot of fan support. The PS5 has actually outsold the XSX 2 to 1.
The hardware could of course be improved upon with a PS5 Pro, which will likely come out at some point in the future, but the most immediate needs are visual in nature. What the console really needs is to be more user-friendly for the player and easier to integrate into homes without becoming an eyesore.
Technically, fans wish that the PS5 had a little more storage space than it currently does, which shouldn't be that difficult to accomodate given its physical size. When one considers the large file sizes of recent games, this becomes especially problematic. A redesign would probably focus more on the look and basic functionality of the console, but maybe it could add a little space for more storage.
PS5 fans also want to see a Quick Resume feature added to the PS5, similar to what the XSX has. This feature allows players to jump back in the game without having to reload it, and while the PS5 has something like that, but XSX can keep three games in this state whereas PlayStation can only have one. A feature like this would be especially useful for something like Returnal, which doesn't have a convenient save system and requires players to finish an entire run before closing the game, or else lose their progress.
There are tons of little features that could certainly be improved, and hopefully will be in the future, but for now, just having the console be readily available is a big enough improvement to satisfy a lot of gamers.
While it would be nice for Sony to address some other minor design issues in the meantime, it probably wouldn't thrill gamers who recently got their hands on a $500 console only to have it be upgraded a couple of months later. A redesign is almost certainly on the way with a PS5 Slim or Pro version, but for this upcoming redesign, the only notable difference should be store availability.