https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/11/analysis-breaking-down-the-playstation-5-console-reveal/

Every console reveal comes with both backlash and praise for its design, but many should keep in mind that how a console looks on the outside doesn’t have a major impact on performance. Video game systems aren’t race cars and designing one that looks fast doesn’t mean that it will compute faster. The heavy lifting is done by the silicon and circuits powering the machine. At most, the external design factors into air flow and the noise a system makes.

With that said, the PlayStation 5 follows a trend for the console. The odd-numbered PlayStation systems have notable curves to them. The original had a circular lid that kept the CD in place. The PlayStation 3 had a rounded top that made it look like “Darth Vader’s medicine cabinet,” according to Newsweek. The even-numbered PlayStation consoles had a boxy design. That’s notable with the two-tiered PlayStation 2 and the sharp angles of the current PlayStation 4.