I've read people referring to 1996 as the big breakthrough year in big PS1 games with Resident Evil, Tekken 2, Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider.  For the PS2 it is usually considered 2001 with Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, Final Fantasy X, Grand Theft Auto III and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. What do you think was the year for the PS3 and PS4?

ps3 never broke out.

ps4 was june 10 2013: https://www.google.com/search?q=how%20to%20share%20a%20game%20on%20ps4&gws_rd=ssl

For PS3 it wasn't a list of games, it was a number: $299.

You look at sales of exclusive games on PS3 and nothing really impresses greatly. GT5 sold over 10 million, and then there is a ~4 million gap until you see the next exclusive.

I think the same can be said for PS4, again it was a number that gave PS4 the break out: $399. I think perhaps 2016 might be a perfect storm for a second boost for PS4 sales, if SOny hits all of its game release targets, and they do a $100 price cut 2016 will be a pretty massive year.

For the PS3, it has to be 2009:
Uncharted 2
Demon's Souls
Killzone 2
InFamous
Borderlands
Arkham Asylum

Games that turned into great series.

For PS3 it would have to be 2009 into the first quarter of 2010. Killzone 2, Infamous, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Uncharted 2, MAG, Heavy Rain, Demon Souls, God of War III, and a price cut to $299 right in the middle.  Also a bunch of important third party games made their start in there too.(Borderlands, Arkham Asylum, and Final Fantasy XIII)

Yeah, I'd say 2009 for PS3.

If release dates stick, it'll easily be next year for PS4.

June 12 2008 is when I started to acknowledge the PS3.

yeah i think the same for PS3

and for PS4 it might very well be next year that starts strong and ends strong

Uncharted 4

Street Fighter V

Ratchet and Clank

The Last Guardian

Dreams (i think its 2016 but im not sure)

Horizon: Zero Dawn

all big exclusives that will surely boost the hardware

and then there is the chance that some multiplat games that have always sold always better on PS get released on 2016:

Tekken 7

Final Fantasy XV

Plus all the japanese third party support thats already bound to get better and better every year, as more japanese devs focus completely on next gen.