Sony should delay PS6 ‘as long as possible’ says former PlayStation boss

A troubled generation (Metro) Shuhei Yoshida has encouraged Sony to hold back the PS6, because players and developers are ‘very happy’ using their PS5. Between the soaring prices of consoles and the slow transition from the prior generation, there’s a sense that nobody is ready for the PlayStation 6 or Project Helix other than Sony and Xbox. However, despite the lack of demand, it seems like both consoles will launch in 2027 – based on leaks and manufacturing info. The big question is, at a time when prices for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles are increasing, will anyone want to buy a successor at an even higher price? The obvious answer to avoid these concerns is to delay the launch of the next generation, until the memory crisis that’s primarily behind these price rises starts to die down. It’s a sentiment that’s now been supported by former PlayStation Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida, who believes Sony and Nintendo should focus on the PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 for ‘as long as possible’. In an interview with The Verge, Yoshida said: ‘Sony and Nintendo have sold enough numbers of their current generation hardware, so because of the cost of goods, they might be looking [at] pushing back the launch of next gen. I think they should try to keep the current generation as long as possible, because I think people are very happy using PlayStation 5 and Switch 2. Expert, exclusive gaming analysis Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. ‘People have [a] finite budget, and it feels like PC and consoles, the components very specific to these devices have increased their price way more than all the other forms of entertainment. People who have systems like PlayStation 5, Switch 2, or PCs – you know, good enough PCs – probably will be happy to play games on them and not necessarily consider replacing [them].’ The Switch 2 only launched last year, so Nintendo won’t be considering a follow-up anytime soon. However, much like the original Switch, there probably are plans for new iterations, such as the Switch Lite and Switch OLED. However, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are both six years old, and prior console cycles have typically lasted around seven years. As such, a 2027 launch for the next generation from Sony and Microsoft makes sense on paper, but between price hikes and the small improvements between console generations today, it’s becoming a hard sell. Yoshida goes on to to emphasise the lack of demand, adding: ‘I don’t think lots of people are asking for more power – ‘We need more power!’ – or even developers. I don’t think developers are asking [for] better hardware. So I think that means that the current generation, Sony and Nintendo are going to do pretty well for many years to come, still.’ While Sony and Nintendo can perhaps afford to ride out their current generation consoles over a longer timeframe, the same can’t be said for Xbox. Microsoft’s current console has sold poorly, so they have more reason to launch a console next year. However, Sony will remember the significant advantage the Xbox 360 gained by launching a year before the PlayStation 3, and it’s likely that which is pushing their 2027 plans more than anything else. Xbox needs new hardware urgently (Microsoft) ‘Xbox is a team who wants to change the competing landscape, so it’s going to be hard for them, but it’s their time to play,’ Yoshida added. ‘It’s very exciting, what’s going to happen next year?’ The toughest challenge Sony and Microsoft face with the next generation is justifying its existence. It could lean harder on exclusive games to drive console sales, but when development costs for AAA games are sky high, limiting a game’s audience doesn’t feel financially viable in today’s market. Nintendo have struck a good balance with the Switch 2, combining both exclusive games like Mario Kart World and cross-gen titles like Pokémon Legends: Z-A to transition people over, but the attach rate to their games is far higher than other consoles – so it can perhaps afford to take more risks when it comes to exclusivity. It leaves Sony and Microsoft in an awkward position, where they might be forced to release new hardware next year at a time when no one is really asking for it. Will the PS5 be the longest generation? (Sony Interactive Entertainment) Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. 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