Is the PlayStation 6 coming sooner than we thought?

Many gamers are only just now getting their hands on the PlayStation 5, but according to Sony, the console is expected to enter the latter stage of its life cycle next fiscal year. Does this mean the PlayStation 6 is just around the corner?

Sony’s Senior Vice President Naomi Matsuoka said, “Looking ahead, PS5 will enter the latter stage of its life cycle. As such, we will put more emphasis on the balance between profitability and sales. For this reason, we expect the annual sales pace of PS5 hardware will start falling from the next fiscal year.”

Current predictions estimate that the PS6 will launch around 2026, six years after the release of the PS5. Looking at past life cycles, the PS4 launched in 2013 and survived through a seven year generation. The same can be said for the PS3, which launched in 2006.

Sony’s competitor Microsoft released the Xbox 360 in 2005, which lasted about 8 years before the Xbox One launched. The Xbox Series X and S followed the PlayStation’s launch pattern with a 2020 release.

Additionally, the Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to be arriving in 2024, 7 years after the original Switch launched in 2017.

Many are criticisizing the possibility of a new console drop, but when you look at the numbers, the life cycles of recent generations have actually started to lengthen (this might be a different story for developers). There was only a five-year gap between the release of the PlayStation One and PS2 (1995-2000).

But for gamers, it feels like this generation has barely begun, and signs could point toward multiple issues. COVID-19 is one of the largest reasons, with the global chip shortages wreaking havok on numerous industries. Shortages trailed into a reduction in production of PS5 consoles, resulting in a severe lack of stock. With no stock, and scalpers taking advantage of high demand, many people weren’t able to get their hands on the PS5 until a couple of years into its life cycle, especially considering the fact that supply chain issues weren’t completely resolved until 2023.

Content is another issue. Xbox has dwindled beneath a lack of major first-party exclusives, and while the PS5 has seen highly-expected releases like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök, many still feel like the PS5 has more gas in the tank.

Some believe it’s more likely that Sony will follow its previous formula of releasing a Pro version of its current console as a bridge to the next generation.

For those who have a PS5, how long did it take you to grab one? Let me know in the comments below!