Sony Announces PS5 Entering Latter Stage of Life Cycle, Raises Questions for Gamers
It feels like just yesterday that we were finally able to get our hands on a PlayStation 5 (PS5) after years of inventory issues and resellers. However, according to a recent report by Bloomberg, Sony has announced that the console is entering “the latter stage of its life cycle.” This statement has sparked a mix of surprise and confusion among fans online. What does this mean for gamers? And didn’t the PS5 just come out?
The PS5 was released in November 2020, making it four years old this year. Throughout its lifecycle, the console has consistently sold out faster than it has been restocked. Despite this, Sony has managed to sell over 54 million consoles so far, which is more than double the combined sales of its rival Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. Additionally, the PS5 is on track to outsell its predecessor, the PS4. However, these figures fall short of Sony’s own predictions. The company had hoped to sell 25 million consoles by the end of the financial year in March 2024. Unfortunately, its holiday 2023 sales did not meet expectations, leading Sony to revise its forecast to 21 million units. As a result, the company’s share price has fallen in recent weeks.
In late 2023, Sony introduced the PS5 Slim, a digital-only model that came with an optional and detachable disc drive. This hardware refresh follows a similar pattern to the PlayStation 4, where revisions were introduced three years after its initial release. However, it took another five years for Sony to discontinue the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro models, as the company continued to produce them for over a year after the PS5 launched. It remains uncertain whether Sony will follow the same route with the PS5 and its successor. Nevertheless, this serves as a reference point to illustrate that the “latter stage” of a console’s lifecycle does not necessarily mean the end. Therefore, while Naomi Matsuoka’s statement about the PS5’s life cycle may sound surprising, things are actually progressing as expected.
As with any tech company, Sony is always working years ahead of what it releases in the market. The company’s comments about the PS5’s life cycle may hint at a new and more powerful version of the console in the near future. Rumors about a PS5 Pro have been circulating for some time, and Sony’s statement could be a subtle indication of what gamers can expect from the company.
However, there is one statement made by Sony’s chairman, Hiroki Totoki, that should concern gamers. During a recent earnings call, Totoki mentioned that they do not plan to release any new major existing franchise titles in the next fiscal year. This news disappoints PlayStation fans who have been eagerly awaiting more first-party exclusives after a relatively quiet couple of years filled with remasters. It seems that we won’t be seeing any new AAA titles or follow-ups to fan favorites like Ghosts of Tsushima anytime soon. Furthermore, since Totoki specified the “fiscal year” as his timeline, it suggests that the highly anticipated Death Stranding 2 from gaming legend Hideo Kojima won’t be released before April 2025.
As we await further developments, it is clear that Sony is navigating the latter stage of the PS5’s life cycle while also planning for the future. Gamers can expect potential hardware upgrades and improvements, but they may need to exercise patience when it comes to new game releases. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey in the world of gaming.