The Technological Jump from PS4 to PS5 Isn’t That Huge, Says Death Stranding 2 Dev

Akio Sakamoto, the Chief Technical Officer at Kojima Productions, who worked on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, recently shared his thoughts on the technological differences between the PS4 and PS5. According to him, the leap from PS4 to PS5 is not as huge as some might expect, especially when compared to past console upgrades.

In an interview with Edge, Sakamoto explained that the biggest change was likely in efficiency. The PS5’s hardware allows developers to achieve their goals more easily and in less time compared to the PS4. This is a more subtle evolution but still an important one when working on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach for the PS5.

Efficiency Improvements with PS5

Sakamoto was asked about what the development team achieved on the PS5 that wasn’t possible on the PS4. His response reflected a deep understanding of hardware, saying that the most noticeable improvement was in loading times. However, he emphasized that the difference between the two consoles wasn’t that big. Instead, the PS5 offers more efficient ways to reach similar goals.

According to him, while the new hardware makes everything easier, there aren’t necessarily features that can only be done on the PS5 but would be impossible on the PS4. It’s more about having a smoother process and faster results.

Creative Freedom for Artists

Sakamoto also mentioned that the artists on the team face fewer limitations when creating the world of Death Stranding 2. They no longer have to find complex solutions for designing the levels. However, this creative freedom has led to its own set of challenges for the programmers. In some ways, it’s created an environment where artists are now working with fewer restrictions, which has resulted in more technical hurdles for the development team.