Sony has revealed the PS5’s new AMD chip will enable 3D audio – but how will this effect your gaming sessions?
Immersive audio is a growing trend, with the rise of object-based surround sound technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X in the world of film – but how will immersive audio translate to the world of gaming?
In an interview with Wired, lead architect of the long-awaited PlayStation 5 Mark Cerny confirmed that the next-gen console will support what he calls « 3D audio » – something he says will « make you feel more immersed in the game as sounds come at you from above, from behind, and from the side ».
While Cerny didn’t elaborate on how the technology works, he confirmed that it won’t require « any external hardware », with the audio chip forming part of the third-generation AMD Ryzen chipset that will power the PlayStation 5.
It could work in a similar way to Dolby Atmos, an audio format that positions different sounds in a 3D space – however, Dolby Atmos requires external hardware like a compatible soundbar with up-firing tweeters that propel sound right up to your ceiling.
Similarly, Sony’s own foray into immersive audio, 360 Reality Audio, currently only works with compatible headphones, and would require games sound designers to place every individual instrument and effect within a virtual sphere.
