One big topic of discussion ahead of the PlayStation 5 launch remains the console's heating and noise levels, despite reassurances from PS5 preview coverage that the PS5 is quiet and cool. This goes to show how impactful the PS4's noise issues have been on PlayStation fans, but it appears that Sony is taking the issue seriously even beyond the PS5's heat-optimized hardware. The developer will even able to adjust PS5 fan speed post-launch with firmware updates.
In an interview with Japanese outlet 4Gamer, Sony's mechanical design department VP Yasuhiro Ootori discussed its future plans in this regard. Ootori explains that once games are released for the PS5, Sony will gather data on how the console deals with heat. This data is key to understanding not just how millions of PS5s handle a wide variety of video games, but also how they handle them in diverse areas that are hot, cold, dusty, and so on.
Ootori describes how Sony has a plan to optimize the PS5's fans based on the data it collects, and he even goes into detail about how the PS5 has three different temperature sensors on its main board that Sony is able to use to control fan speed. Using these sensors, Sony can update the PS5's "fan control parameters" in order to appropriately deal with system heat. These changes will be made through a firmware update at a later date.
The reason why Ootori is already planning to go ahead with this process pre-launch isn't explained, but can be assumed. There's always the possibility that Sony has made a mistake that needs to be corrected after being discovered in practice. Heating issues seem to be a consistent problem with consoles, so Sony is preparing for potential negative scenarios. Alternatively, Sony's plan is to simply make the PS5 as efficient as possible. The PS5 may have no direct issues, but may still have opportunities to improve.
One likely impetus of Ootori's public comment is to calm a fear of PlayStation fans. The PS4, and particularly the PS4 Pro, is known to be a loud console. The fans inside have to go into high speeds in order to do with system heat, which creates a lot of noise. The alternative is a console that doesn't deal with heat well, like the Xbox 360 and its red ring of death.
Fans may not have to worry in the first place, though. Ootori's comments only serve as more evidence that Sony is trying to go above and beyond to make sure the PS4's heat and noise are taken care of in the PS5 generation.
The PS5 releases November 12 in select regions.