Sony has confirmed the first games that will take advantage of PS5's new 'Tempest' 3D audio system. At launch, Tempest will work only with headphones but it is coming to TVs later.

PS5 'Tempest' 3D audio
Rather than relying on partners' Dolby Atmos or DTS:X systems, Sony has developed its own object-based audio system for PlayStation 5 games. It is known as 'Tempest 3D AudioTech' and designed to make sound more immersive with accurate audio positioning.

- "Our game worlds have been 3D for generations now, but for audio we typically have been limited to 2D surround sound. When Iron Man is destroying a turret positioned above you, or Hulk roars as he takes on the enemies below you, you want to hear the sound coming from those directions. We can just take the actual positions of the audio and ensure we get them to the PS5 3D Audiotech engine and significantly improve your sense of being in the world. And all that is just with your headphones, without needing complex surround stereo systems," explains Katsman, Studio Head at Nixxes, developers of Marvel’s Avengers.



Headphones first, then TVs
At launch, Tempest will work only with headphones. Sony says that its upcoming Pulse 3D headset has "been engineered to take full advantage of PS5’s 3D Audio capabilities" but you will also be able to other headphones.

- "On the PS5, you’ll be able to experience 3D Audio with the headphones that many of you already own, either through USB connection to the console, or by plugging your headphones into the DualSense wireless controller’s 3.5mm headset jack," said Sony.

Sony added that it is working on bringing support to speakers in TV in the future. The company made it clear that it will not be ready for PS5 launch day in November. It has yet to comment on receiver systems and soundbars.

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At its tech talk earlier this year, PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny explained that Tempest will use a head-related transfer function (HRTF) to optimize audio to the individual ear. That is because we all have different ears. One way to pick or optimize the HRTF is to take a picture of your ear and upload it in a mobile app but Sony is working on other approaches too, said Cerny.

Some of the first PS5 games that will take advantage of the Tempest 3D Audio system are Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Astro’s Playroom, Gran Turismo 7, Returnal, Destruction AllStars, Demon’s Souls, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Horizon Forbidden West, and Resident Evil Village.