Even the legendary video game director Masahiro Sakurai needs a break every once and a while, so what does he do when he's not working on new fighters and content for the Nintendo Switch title Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? He plays other games and systems on his insane gaming setup, of course.
In his latest bi-weekly Famitsu column, as translated by Source Gaming, Sakurai spoke about how he recently got hold of a PlayStation 5 (on release day, mind you) and placed it on its side underneath his television.
He apparently thinks every part of it "feels nice to touch" because it's so smooth and highly recommends the pre-installed game Astro's Playroom - noting how it acts like a PlayStation archive. He's also happy about how he can play his existing PS4 library on Sony's new system and ended up upgrading his copy of Watch Dogs Legion, stating how the graphics looked better.
Sakurai's not quite as impressed with the size of the system's internal storage compared to the PS4 and mentioned how he hopes stock shortages will be resolved soon, so more people can experience the system.
In a Nintendo Life poll earlier this month featuring more than 7,000 votes, 37% of participants said their next-gen combo would be a Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Seven percent said they would be rolling with "just" the PS5, 22% were sticking with the Switch, and another seven percent said they were interested in every console. View the full results here.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 110
Yes. Respect other console and each other.
Really glad I finally got my hands on a PS5, one went up on eBay for the retail price £450 and I snapped it up within 5 minutes of it going up. The poor guy had apparently been made redundant due to Covid so just wanted his money back. I’m putting it under the tree and waiting till Christmas though, it should make my wee brother’s day.
I'm deliberately waiting for the price to go down.
Also, Sakurai has a really nice setup! I wonder what it'd take to get my setup that easily accessible.
Smash for Playstation 5 confirmed!!!
...
Seriously though, I'm hoping to get one soon...eventually...I hate scalpers. >_>
Man I’m still looking for one 😅
I hope I could pick one up one day. THIS MAN (Clapping in the backround)
Any excuse to share a picture of sakurai‘a gaming rig...
Trying to work out those poll results. Failing.
Astro's Playroom reminds me a lot of Smash, even the final boss is something Sakurai would have thought of, the end credits having breakable yellow text (for coins) is very Smash like.
I still don't understand why there was a Switch and PC option in NL's poll. I be that would have won.
It's my choice at least.
@Heavyarms55 Especially since Game Pass is on PC. I love PC gaming but just couldn’t do without PS exclusives. So I guess that means technically I buy into all 4 main ecosystems, eShop, Steam, PS and Xbox.
PlayStation All Stars: Battle Royale 2 confirmed!?
I'm going to make a bold prediction and say that 10 years from now, console wars will be such a relic of the past that we'll have the first cross-platform Smash game, featuring the best of Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony. Sony already tried for themselves and failed to capitalize on Smash's success with their own crossover fighting game, so they might as well lend out their IP like Microsoft is doing. Just imagine having Sackboy, Cratos, Jak and Daxter, Sly Cooper, Rachet and Clank, and Astro alongside Master Chief and the Nintendo characters and third-parties already in the game.
@Joeynator3000
Same. I’m probably going to try and pick it up during Christmastime. Hopefully, the scalpers won’t get their grubby hands on it. >
lol.. while Switch offers 32gb internal storage. Still better than you Nintendo guys. You are forcing people to get SD Cards and make them pay more for you hardware eventually. So... hypocrit at highest here
Pleasantly surprised to see next to no console warmongers here. We've come a LONG way since the days of "Genesis Does What Nintendon't"!
He has a US SNES, nice! Where’s the 64DD?
@Alucard83 But unlike PCIe Gen 4 SSDs, Micro SD cards are cheap AF.
I wouldn't mind Astro being a part of smash bros, though he's probably not considered super iconic for Sony. Playing through Astro's playroom really gave the little guy a lot of charm though.
I never buy a new console until there is a game on it I really want to play.
With Konami shooting MGS like a wounded dog, and Microsoft purchasing both Obsidian and Bethesda, I don't know when or if Sony will ever have that game for me on the PS5.
I'm really happy most people are over the "console wars." There's no need to game shame anyone.
@nessisonett Oh lord.... That's awful. Congrats to you, but I feel for the guy. So many people where I work have been let go this year. I've already said my farewells just in case the time comes.
Sakurai has always being and avid Playstation player, his wraps it up stats for PS 2019 was impresive.
The only real surprising part here is to know that Sakurai plays uninspired generic games like Watch Dog...
@Alucard83 Um, respectfully, he didn't design the switch console. He makes Smash. And he was comparing the PS5 to the PS4. Even if he had a hand in the switch development, it's a handheld hybrid, so he still wouldn't be a hypocrite for having this opinion.
@Clamango Same. But to be clear, this was not a war started by gamers. Sega America spent millions trying to gaslight kids into thinking that their beloved Nintendo gaming characters were "slow" and "boring". Pretty immoral if you think about it. Now advertisers prefer to more directly insult consumers (ie: you suck so you need our product).
@Wilforce I really feel for him too. I made sure to leave positive feedback for him but that’s really all I could do!
Awesome setup! Nintendo consoles are my only day one console purchases. With Sony I wait at least a year or so until their 1st hardware revision. No stock problems, big catalog of titles to check out, and most of them are on sale by then
Sakurai's enjoyment of Astro makes me wish even more that 1-2 Switch or something like it had been pre-installed for free on every Switch. Such a lost chance to instill a sense of fun and identity with the console from the beginning.
low-key critiquing the Switch here: "highly recommends the pre-installed game Astro's Playroom - noting how it acts like a PlayStation archive. He's also happy about how he can play his existing PS4 library on Sony's new system and ended up upgrading his copy of Watch Dogs Legion, stating how the graphics looked better...not quite as impressed with the size of the system's internal storage compared to the PS4 and mentioned how he hopes stock shortages will be resolved soon, so more people can experience the system".
Game systems or not, i love this guys living room, it’s so straight lines , clean and minimalist style. That’s what I’m trying to achieve xxxx
@Rogueleader Pointing out legitimate criticisms that other companies do better in than the company he works for isn't trolling.
Ha ha. He does a good job of making me want a PS5. Sony should thank him.
(By the way, he has this air of a genius philosophical artist to me. Lol).
I could even change my mind about the poll:
Now that the PS5 controller has all the things, that I have grown to like in Nintendo consoles, AND Nintendo’s controllers don’t work at all, I might go ALL PS5 this gen.
@Not_Soos Yuck, no thanks. Smash Bros is at it's core a celebration of Nintendo's history and I'd rather not see those boring characters in it. Minecraft Steve is bad enough. The only Sony character I ever really found appealing was Parappa The Rapper. Shame they didn't do a lot with him.
I'd like to see less third party characters in Smash period and more Nintendo characters like Birdo, Waluigi, Toad, Meowth, Dixie Kong and maybe someone else from Animal Crossing (I like the idea of Saharah who can fly on a carpet)
@HotGoomba___Rebrand
Lol,
I really didnt like that game, at first i was like wow cool, till i played it... Liked the concept, but would rather have a game like that in the style of Jump force (only worked out better) that would be massive.
I thought the picture of Sakurai next to the PS5 was to scale for a 2nd.
Hope we get to see picture of his gaming set up with PS5 included at some point to see where he squeezed it in.
I might get one eventually but I'm not sure where to put it (due to it's size) and with it not being able to play 3D Blu rays, as I have many, I'm on the fence.
@Anti-Matter why not? The feedback on the dualsense with Astro is supposed to be incredible!
@AJDarkstar Mine definitely was. I played it, and it was the first thing I did, before I even connected the console to the internet.
@datamonkey Don't even bother; he thinks the game is evil because it references other franchises. Best not to ask any questions...
@Alucard83 Apples and oranges. 1 TB of flash memory meant for portable devices vs. 1 TB of hard disk memory runs on completely different pricing scales, and that's before you get into how much more expensive a comparable solid state drive can be.
I‘m playing games since 30 years and only had Nintendo systems: Game Boy, SNES, Game Boy Color, N64, Game Boy Advance, Gamecube, Wii, 3DS, Switch. The PS5 will be my first Playstation, because this will finally bring (back) the joy of gaming without notable loading times, something I loved on N64 etc. and was not there on PS1-4. My PS5 will be under my Christmas tree!
@nessisonett,
Pretty awesome somebody sold a PS5 on flea-bay for retail price, even more so considering the guy had lost his job and could have asked at least £750.00 for the console. But was probably desperate for a quick sale and the money.
@nessisonett,
Funny thing with this is we are actually surprised someone has sold a console for it's actual price, when in fact this is what should be happening if e-Bay themselves had any backbone, and did not let items like this and the new Xbox be sold for insane prices on their site.
I have both win win situation:)
@nessisonett No wonder he was made redundant if that's how he does his maths. Once eBay takes their cut of the selling fee he'll be down about £50. Given that other people are selling theirs for upwards of £800, that guy is clearly as thick as the PS5.
@Menchi yeah trolling isn't the right word. I was thinking more of like "criticizing" without actually naming the company (nintendo) you are criticizing by pointing out things about PS5 that have been critiqued about Switch.
@Joeynator3000 I think PS5 for Smash is more likely lol
@gcunit
With that comment, taking the G and I out of your username feels appropriate. 😁
@AJDarkstar weird as mine was preinstalled. Your right its a great game. My kids love it and the dualsense in that game.
Personally have no reason whatsoever to get a PS5. I don't have a PS4 either. I have the former three though but even those I barely played on. Only Final Fantasy IX I really played a lot and that one is available on the Switch now. So yeah, no reason for me to be getting it.
Good for Sakurai and everyone else who likes to get one though, I suppose!
@dazzleshell just sayin' it how it is - bro needs to wise up 😎
im fine with my switch and gaming pc, no need for an overpriced console with faulty hardware.
@Octane haha ok thanks for the info. I’ll leave it!
I committed to the Xbox Series X before either were released because I thought Microsoft were preparing to whip out the big guns.
But then I learned that Microsoft won't have a single exclusive game for at least the first year of the Xboxes life.
So I'm going with Sony again, I really wanted to hop back on the Xbox band wagon but with Gamepass, I honestly won't need to. I can just Play Xbox games elsewhere.
Microsoft need to ditch their consoles, they've actually got no idea what they are doing anymore.
@Clamango Most console war come from Sony fanboys as Sony entered in the console market with the specific purpose to kill Sega and Nintendo. Sony is the only company acting as if they wanted full control of the industry.
I would buy a next gen console, but I'm eagerly awaiting the next Switch. Hope my PC can play Cyberpunk
@gcunit Could have been £1 selling fees...
@gcunit Seller could have gone to CEX and sold it for £600 without any eBay fees. Story doesn't sound right - which usually means one thing.
How can someone as busy as Sakurai manage to play that many consoles?
I'm barely managing my Switch/PC backlog as it is...
I hate the blue colour scheme on this article
@Mijzelffan Your profile pic kinda goes nice with it though!
@AJDarkstar yeah astro really does show off what it can do. Don't sleep on sackboy either, not quiet on the same level but it's just a fun brilliant game too. Been playing it through with my boys and having a great time.
@AJDarkstar NL here, but I assume it's the same for all of Europe. Definitely the first time I've heard that someone had to download it!
@glaemay I think you'll find there are toxic fan boys on all systems. I find it funny how people can have such loyalty to billion dollar corporations, when all 3 have been anti consumer at times. I just love playing great games, which ever system they're on.
@Serialsid Is it any good? 60 is a bit too steep for me, from what looks to be a 3D World clone.
It's one of those games that would've been 40 if it was one PS4 I think.
I will definitely be picking up a PS5 to compliment my Switch in 2021. Don’t really care about fighting to get one this year. I’ll probably pick one up in February or July as a gift for one of my kids birthdays.
@Octane it is overpriced at £60 but I have to say its very inventive, has great music and some of the levels just make you laugh. It's challenging at times too. Co op upto 4 players and some of the side levels you have to play together. It's not as good as super Mario Odyssey but in my opinion it's better than 3D world.
@Rogueleader agreed, but it sold quite a bit. I thought it looked like beta ware for the system, worth no more than a few dollars. I wish they put ore effort into it.
As usual, I'll wait until the kinks are worked out before I jump into another console. This even goes for the Switch, which I didn't pick up until the 2019 hardware revision.
@glaemay this is partly true, the console wars actually started with Sega and Nintendo, the Sega TV ads were particularly focused on competing with Nintendo.
Nintendo by enlarge ignored Sega though.
now where the truth in your statement comes in, is when Sony entered the race with the sole purpose of putting Sega and Nintendo out of business, is when Nintendo started to take notice of the competition.
But the thing is, since then a lot has changed, particularly with Sony, who are no longer trying to put anyone out of business, instead Sony are trying hard to stay in business.
Almost EVERY single one of Sony's other divisions are bleeding money and have been for the better part of a decade now.
Mobiles
Movies
Other electronics
All have been in negative figures for a long while, mobiles are particularly bad, they even exited the Laptop space in 2014 because they couldn't turn a profit on it.
Sony (Playstation) fans might still be on the old band wagon but Sony themselves are more than likely focused on the health of their own business and not the health of another companies.
Also there is another metric in this that matters and that's the company overheads but I won't get into that now. The short of it is, Sony simply cannot afford to compete with a company that actually makes a profit from every console they sell.
@Alucard83 You do know that PS5 games take much more space, and most games take 1-10 gigabytes. (Unlike the 100-gigabyte games they have on the PS5) You can´t compare the systems like that.
Birdo in 8K, make it happen. You will fall into my pores and never return.
@Birdo_In_transition Super Birdo World
Astro Bot on PSVR is a truly amazing game. Such playful fun, it almost does the Nintendo feel better than Nintendo themselves. But it does it slightly different still, and is a totally different experience because of the VR, so it's hard to compare. Truly a joy to play though, so IF I one day get a PS5, I look forward to playing Astro's Playroom. But that's not for the next couple of years at least.
@The-Chosen-one I hate that game too lol I was just kidding around.
I wonder what his thoughts about the Atari VCS.
Astro Bot is indeed wonderful. Best non-Nintendo platformer I've played in a long, long time!
Just got the word that my PS5 is ready for pick-up! Can't wait to feel the haptics in the DualSense!
both console are not worth to buy at this moment.
the ps5 is ugly and way too big, misses essential features like dolby vision and even a FPS boosting engine like VRR free-sync or G-sync. its basicly a playstation pro 2.0
also no huge and great game library yet, it will only start to annoy me after months lile i had with the xbox one.
better wait for a new model, and more offers, maybe christmas 2021..
the xbox on the other hand, has every specs im searching for, but im not buying a series X for game pass, bethesda, outdated halo franschise or forza. i want more variety more exclusives and not like those games as fable, we need new epic ones.
i never have been commited to a specific brand, might as well turn out im not touching any nintendo product for 12 years like i did before the nintendo switch. for me a console got to have an magical experience. strange enough the wii-u wich i bought at the very least moment , decide me to get a nintendo switch.
Not surprised, great system (more if coming from an old PS4 like me, anyone with a PRO, can hold off a bit)
Astro Bot is fantastic and so is SackBoy (rent it, not worth $60). Love when a console launches with a good platformer
Just wish Sony had more stock. Only 2 of us in the fam have one at this point (GodFall is a snooze, so ok for now)
@glaemay
Nintendo actually had total control of the US market from 1985 until about 1991, when the Genesis really took off.
They’re all guilty of it.
I have a PS5 and a Switch sitting side by side. I haven’t had this since my PS2 and GameCube sat side by side.
I’m no console warrior. I may even pick up a Series S next Christmas just for Halo and Gamepass.
@Octane Yep... it should be $39.99 at most. I did a rental.
Astro's Playroom is insanely good fun and an incredible showcase for what the Dualsense can do. I wish every launch game for the PS5 used the controller to the same degree. We keep going back to it and replaying random levels because it just feels so cool! Honestly, the extra power and pretty graphics are great and all, but the Dualsense is the star of this gen! The haptic feedback and those resistive triggers are far better than any leap in power. And the thing costs less than a pair of Joy-Cons.
PS5 design = cool
Some new exclusives = cool
Sony’s pandering and censorship = not cool
Higher prices on most games = pure greed
Sony’s new controller = I will buy one for my PC
I will stick to PC/Switch/PS4 until Sony decides to find a clue on a few things again.
@Judgedean It was a traditional auction with a buy now clause for £450. If it didn’t have the buy out then he’d have made more money most likely. It’ll be here in a week, I can post photos of it then and considering no other shop has them in stock... this is the only way I’m getting one. People that know me on here and PS know that I wouldn’t pay more than the retail price which I was already unsure about and really have just been lucky.
@Mijzelffan I like it. Blue is best. 💙
@Alucard83 Sakurai is not a Nintendo employee and have nothing to do with the storage on Switch.
I have never been a Sony Playstation fan but lots of people love them. I had an Xbox but rarely played it. I still have it somewhere. I am looking for unique gameplay on a console not graphics. I can get that on PC.
Astro's Playroom is fantastic.
For a game that only exists to show off the Dualsense tech it has no right to be as good as it is.
I beat the final boss and legitimately felt upset that it was over so soon.
@Heavyarms55 yeah it looks like Nintendo and PC are really the way to go this gen unless you absolutely have to play Sony’s third person action adventure movies.
Odd thing here is when we have stock inventory shortages of PS5 where are the NintenDoomed fandom calling for their PS5 heads to roll???? Funny how when Switch was short on inventory people where up in Arms but when PS5 does the very same inventory shortages no one says anything such Righteous. Now we have to ask where there Bias here.
@Maulbert
Same here.
I also haven't got a PS4 because there was only God of War for me.
Final Fantasy, Dinasty Warriors et alter, Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid, all that japano Stuff that once was exclusive to Sony is nowadays aviable on the PC.
Also Games from the Xbox.
There is no Reason for me to get a Console from Sony or Microsoft.
That means not that i think that those are bad Systems.
This means only that a PC + Switch serves me absolutly.
@Agramonte
Thanks for the unintentional tips. I’m not in a rush to get a PS5 because I have a Pro (though I have got a Series X). I really want to have a go at Sackboy, looks really fun. Expensive though. Might be one I buy if I see a deal, sell on when me and my Son have played it and get it again when I pick up a PS5 in a couple of years.
I'm shocked to hear Sakurai playing W_D Legion. I knew it was better than the reviews keep building it up to be (though I'm limiting play of it until the save bug is patched, hopefully this week), but to hear that someone with such a keen eye into what makes games tick is enjoying it, tells me there's a big disconnect between what the game is trying to do, and what critics expected it to do. Definitely the best in the series, IMO, though I do miss a solid protagonist. Not that the series ever had any
Also, I see an X1X in his setup as well. Now we know who's been buying those dozen units in Japan! No XSX yet though. Yoshida already got his...Sakurai's falling behind!
I was so excited for this console but I can't even get one this happened with the Nintendo Switch for me and I couldn't get it till my birthday in 2019 and kept wishing I pre-ordered it but when pre-orders opened up for PS5 I clearly didn't learn my lesson the first time around because I didn't even bat an eye so I guess me not owning a PS5 is no ones fault but mines 😔
@electrolite77 Yeah, it is like when the RTX2080 came out on PC. Made no sense for anyone with a 1080/1080Ti.
AC: Valhalla, SackBoy, Miles Morales runs just fine on a PRO. And the biggest release this Christmas is not a PS5 game (Cyberpunk)
"...got a Series X"
Nice! Game Pass is amazing.
@Agramonte
Good to know 👍
It was the value proposition with Series X that swung me towards getting one of them first. Plenty of Series X upgrades with Game Pass and also One X versions, often with ether frame rates. Dual sense looks great but it was nice to not have to buy new Controllers to play Co-op. Which is another reason I’ll go for Sackboy on the Pro. Might do some shopping now in fact....
Wow. His set up is giant yet so clean. My set up is also giant but it looks like an electrical hazard with all my wires lol.
@Alucard83 Micro SD cards are pretty cheap anymore compared to what the Ps5 and xbox series x use for storage they are leagues cheaper lol. I get what your saying but thats comparing apples to Oranges lol
@kuzronk also gives me Undertale inspiration vibes with the end credits part
@Vasilios yeah, I snatched myself a 128 GB micro sd card (for my switch)and now I don't have to worry about space AT ALL, it's amazing, (I haven't had any slow loading or anything) btw, I have 500 GB my PC but that still isn't enough, I'm pissed at PC developers.
related story: my dad wanted a console that had lots of party games and single-player games and he read online over and over that the PS4 was amazing, so he got one and now he is super disappointed, after he told it to me I said ”why didn't you get an Xbox with game pass?!?” he said ”whats game pass” o told him ”it's like Netflix for games, you pay a bit each month and can access hundreds of quality games” he replied ”dammit” sad story. PS4 isn't bad, just didn't really have the things that appealed to my dad.
@Shambo wow, maybe see if the developers are any former developers from Nintendo, or maybe they just did it in Nintendo’s style.
@marioguy20 lol
@Octane it also comes with something completely now called browsers fury, I'm also guessing better graphics, idk check the reviews when it comes out.
@Alucard83 I really can't tell what your saying?
@TheGameChallenger Hah!
By the way, tell your dad he can get PS Plus and PS Now combined for less than the price of GamePass Ultimate. It's worth a look, since it's more games for less money.
@WaveWitch Don't have PSVR so I can't really comment on that one.
@Octane
thanks, I'll tell him
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