PS5 June 3 event could put Xbox Series X on notice

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A PS5 event on June 3 could reveal the system's design, games and more

PS5
(Image credit: Future)

All signs are pointing to a major PS5 event on June 3, according to two new reports. We may finally see a final PS5 design, as well as a system interface and even some live gameplay. But some of the system's biggest details, such as its price and release date, may have to wait for a future event. Furthermore, deep dives on the PS5's game library will probably also come at a later date.

Information comes from two independent reports at Bloomberg and VentureBeat. Both sites, speaking with reliable sources, confirmed that Sony is planning a large PS5 reveal on June 3, although the details are somewhat in flux, and the date could change last minute. While the sites got slightly different details, the reports agreed that the reveal will show off something substantial, but are also planning future events to deliver information piecemeal over the next few months.

Interestingly, neither report revealed exactly what Sony might want to show off, although showing off the system's physical design seems like a safe bet. We've known what the Xbox Series X will look like for months, and Sony has already revealed the DualSense controller design. Unless Sony wants to show off the PS5's interface in a vacuum — which is possible — we'll probably see the system itself.

What's not clear is how much gameplay we'll see. While both reports agree that Sony will probably show off a launch library at later events, one report suggested that Sony was well aware how badly fans wanted to see real gameplay at the Microsoft May 7 event, rather than just a few prerecorded clips. As such, it's probably not unreasonable to expect some gameplay, even if it's from a third-party multiplatform game like Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Sony apparently also wants to keep the PS5 price fluid, at least for the moment. The company wants to price the PS5 competitively, but it also doesn't want to take a loss on hardware, meaning it might be easier to let Microsoft lead the way. If Sony announces a price that gamers deem too high and then Microsoft undercuts it, it would be a reversal of the PS4 beating the Xbox One's launch price by $100 back in 2013.

Previous rumors pointed at multiple possible reveal dates for the PS5 dating back to February, but those never came to fruition outside of a specs-focused deep dive in March. That could be because of Sony's wishes to make its PS5 launch event look as polished as possible in the absence of a real-life stage show. 

Speaking on the Kinda Funny Games Daily podcast (via Push Square), gaming personality Alanah Pearce said that "Sony has tried to do presentations already this year" and was "very obsessed with the idea of having a very, very professional stream, rather than something previously recorded." As such, previous plans for a digital PS5 event may have been scrapped, according to developers that Pearce spoke to. 

In any case, if there really is a big PS5 reveal coming a week from today, expect to hear something official about it pretty soon. Sony will want viewers to tune in, meaning that it will probably host a livestream. Sony's ongoing State of Play video series highlights games like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us, and happens once every few weeks. You can watch them on the official PlayStation YouTube or Twitch channels.

Assuming a live event takes place, Tom's Guide will cover it as it happens. And if not, Sony still seems primed to reveal something big about the PS5 within the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Marshall Honorof
Marshall Honorof

Marshall Honorof was a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.