PS5 Variable Frequency is Very Versatile, Tempest Will be a Game Changer

Microsoft and Sony have laid their cards on the table when it comes to their next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and PS5 respectively. While the former sports an octa-core Zen 2 CPU clocked at 3.8 GHz (which can run at 3.6 GHz with SMT), the latter uses the same CPU but at 3.5 GHz at a variable frequency with SMT. While the hardware still needs to be extensively tested across numerous games, what are developers’ thoughts on the difference?

CBE Software’s Jan Kavan, who developed the first person adventure thriller Someday You’ll Return, said that it “really depends on what kind of game you make. In Someday You’ll Return I was able to have at peak moments of 10ms / frame at obsolete i7 CPU while most of the time the game ran at 4-6 ms/frame CPU bound. But the variable frequency is a neat idea (if it works properly) because it’s very versatile.”

Sony has also spoke a lot about 3D, especially its Tempest audio engine. In conjunction with the DualSense’s haptic feedback and variable triggers, it’s meant to aid in one’s immersion. Kavan says that, “It will be a game-changer but it will also depend on the consumer’s side of audio. For me it’s personally the reason I want to work with PS5.” It would certainly be interesting, if not downright terrifying, to see how horror games utilize this technology.

The PS5 and Xbox Series X are both slated to release this holiday season. Sony recently had its showcase for upcoming PS5 exclusives and third party titles while Microsoft will reveal its first-party efforts in July. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.