Sony Teases Next-Gen PlayStation Console Development

With the PS5 approaching its fifth year, Sony leaders are dropping hints about future console plans, offering elusive responses on whether a new system is in the works.

In a recent investor interview on Sony's corporate site, Hideaki Nishino, CEO and president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, faced a direct question: with cloud gaming gaining traction, is a next-generation console necessary? Is Sony working on one?

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Nishino explained why physical consoles remain essential despite cloud gaming advancements:

“For over a decade, we’ve invested in cloud gaming, supporting PS3, PS4, and PS5 with high-quality streaming services.

“Our PlayStation Plus Premium offers cloud streaming, and we’ve introduced a beta version on the PlayStation Portal.

“Yet, for long-term growth, cloud gaming’s business model must be sustainable. While technically impressive, network stability remains beyond our control.

“Cloud gaming is an exciting option for players, but most still prefer local gameplay for a seamless experience, free from network reliance. The success of PS5 and PS5 Pro supports this view.”

So, Sony remains dedicated to consoles for now. But is a new system, perhaps a PS6, in development?

Nishino elaborated:

“Our console platform has grown into a dynamic ecosystem, engaging millions across PS5 and PS4. Naturally, there’s keen interest in our next-gen strategy.

“While we can’t reveal specifics yet, we’re focused on creating innovative ways for players to enjoy our games and services.”

Clearly, Sony is working on a next-gen console, though this is hardly surprising. Console makers often begin developing new systems soon after launching current ones. Sony, for instance, started PS5 development shortly after the PS4’s 2013 release, suggesting a PS6 may already be years in the making.

Nishino’s remarks offer little detail, but Sony’s recent moves spark speculation. Fans anticipate a powerful PS6, yet the PlayStation Portal’s evolution hints at Sony exploring a portable hybrid, much like Nintendo’s approach.

In the investor interview, Nishino was pressed on the PlayStation Portal’s role in Sony’s next-gen strategy but gave no clear answer.

The question of a next-gen console has lingered since the PS5 launched in November 2020. With the PS5 past its midpoint and Microsoft venturing into Xbox-branded handhelds, change is on the horizon, though its form remains uncertain.

In February, Shawn Layden, former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO, argued that a disc-less PS6 would alienate too many players. Speaking to Kiwi Talkz, Layden noted Xbox’s success with digital strategies but emphasized PlayStation’s vast global reach.

“Sony can’t risk it,” Layden said. “Xbox thrives in select markets, mostly English-speaking. But PlayStation dominates in 170 countries. Going fully digital would exclude users in regions like rural Italy, where reliable internet isn’t guaranteed.”

Last September, reports surfaced that AMD secured the PS6 chip contract over Intel in 2022. With the PS4 launching in 2013 and the PS5 in 2020, a seven-year cycle points to a potential PS6 release in November 2027. Titles like Hideo Kojima’s Physint and The Witcher 4, slated for 2027 or later, could be next-gen launch games.