Sony's 3D audio technology for the PS5 may be one of the standout features over the Xbox Series X

In a post on the PlayStation blog, Isabel Tomatis, senior director of PS VR, eSports, and Peripheral Marketing and Licensing, said that Sony's plan to provide Tempest 3D AudioTech support for TV speakers , not be realized at the time of the game console's launch, she explained Instead, those seeking Sony's high-end surround sound will need to use headphones or Sony's proprietary Pulse 3D wireless headset

"With PS5, many people will be able to experience 3D audio with the headphones they already have," Tomatis said

Frustratingly, however, Tomatis did not name any other headphones that will support 3D audio on PS5

Despite this minor glitch in Sony's widespread plan to support 3D audio technology, a series of games will work with Tempest 3D AudioTech

"PS5 games with 3D audio capabilities include 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, Resident Evil Village and many more Resident Evil Village, and many more," Tomatis said

The good news is that (with the exception of Bugsnax) almost all of the launch (and early release) titles are available The downside, however, is that it almost confirms that 3D audio is not a universal feature, but perhaps a feature that developers need to choose

Immersive audio is one of the three major improvements of the next generation of consoles Games will feel more alive when the headphones represent the sound of the game as something you are moving through, rather than just blasting audio at you

PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech, along with improved world presence through reduced load times (reducing the feeling of being transferred from storage) and natural lighting through ray tracing, leads our brains to feel as if we are inside the game's world It helps us to feel as if we are in the game world

Personally, I feel that 3D audio is a mixed blessing as a feature for TV and movies, as I tested the spatial audio of Apple's AirPods Pro by watching a Dolby Atmos audio show

As I moved my head from side to side, the faint tones of Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso kept coming from the direction I had placed the phone That tone also moved as I adjusted the position of the phone Cool at best, but on second thought, it seemed gimmicky

But it is just a TV show I feel that games, which are a more interactive medium, would benefit more from 3D audio

The Xbox Series X will also have dedicated immersive audio hardware, but from what Tom's Guide has heard so far, it doesn't sound as technical or high-end as Sony's 3D audio Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will be available November 10 With their release on November 10, it won't be long before we learn which console will provide the most auditory enjoyment