It really shouldn’t have taken this long for the PS5 to receive themed faceplates
It’s about time
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The PS5 is an impeccable piece of hardware, there’s no denying that, and it’s been rightfully praised for its performance since its launch nearly three years ago. However, despite its impressive capabilities, the appearance of the system was one of the focal points for criticism upon release. I think the blank V-shaped faceplates are an eyesore, and the sheer size of the console means the appearance is dominated by a huge amount of empty space.
That said, colored faceplates were introduced to help decorate the PS5 to a certain extent, offering a small spectrum of colors to help customize your setup. While these felt like an improvement upon the standard appearance of the system, they still didn’t feel as customizable as they could’ve done, especially after thePS4exceeded expectations with game-specific limited edition consoles, such asMonster Hunter: World,Destiny, andUncharted 4.
With this in mind, it’s not surprising thatFinal Fantasy XValso received a limited edition PS4 console, and with the upcoming launch of,Final FantasyXVI, some sort of commemorative accessory for the PS5 was expected too. Although I’m sure a lot of us would’ve quite happily purchased an entire themed console, I appreciate the fact additional faceplates won’t break the bank as an entire console would.
A more sustainable alternative
It’s a real shame this trend of special edition, game-specific consoles wasn’t continued through to thePS5, especially with how much available space there is on the console for decals. As much as I appreciated the colored faceplates when they were originally introduced, game-specific designs would be a huge hit and feels like a huge opportunity to make the PS5 even better has been missed.
Given just how many big titles have launched on the console, such asGod of War: Ragnarok,Horizon Forbidden West, and evenStray, there have been ample opportunities to produce some sort of themed console, or at least start the trend of game-specific faceplates. In addition, there’s flexibility in faceplates which you don’t get with a standard special edition console. They’re more convenient to collect, store, or display, and once again referencing the size of the PS5, you wouldn’t want a cupboard full of consoles anyway.
As much as I love game-specific consoles likeTheLegend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomNintendo SwitchOLED, or theHalo InfiniteXbox Series X, I think faceplates are a far more sustainable alternative for the future of game-specific consoles, rather than attempting to keep up and feeling the pressure to re-purchase a console for the sake of its design.
Could it be the end of an era?
In a way, I’m starting to think special edition consoles are becoming a thing of the past, especially following the disappointing launch of theDiablo 4Xbox Series X bundlewhich doesn’t feature a themed console or any accompanying accessories either. At least with the introduction of faceplates, you aren’t straying too far from a game-specific console, just offering a cheaper alternative which is especially important with the standard price of first-party titles steadily increasing.
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Kara is an Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming. With a degree in Journalism and a passion for the weird and wonderful, she’s spent the last few years as a freelance video game journalist, with bylines at NintendoLife, Attack of the Fanboy, Prima Games, and sister publication, GamesRadar+. Outside of gaming, you’ll find her re-watching Gilmore Girls or trying to cram yet another collectible onto a shelf that desperately needs some organizing.
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