Forbes has posted a very interesting article titled "The PS4 Won The Console Generation By Being Boring: Can The PS5 Do The Same?"  
The article claims that in the beginning of this generation the Xbox One had crazy innovative ideas of merging the console with the Kinect and using its depth-sensing camera to revolutionize not just motion controls but also voice control, however most people found it confusing and the whole idea pretty much failed. PS4 came out and introduced itself as just like the PS3 but more powerful. By doing so, Sony managed to outsell Xbox One and retake the top position again.  In other words the article claims that PS4's simplicity and lack of innovation was successful. The article also goes on to say that the PS5 will probably take the some approach as the PS4 it will be more powerful and faster than the PS4 and nothing more. 

source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/04/18/the-ps4-won-the-console-generation-by-being-boring-can-the-ps5-do-the-same/#2a6277629f86

I am not saying I agree with the article or disagree I just find it interesting.  What do you think?

They won by not trying to fix something that wasn't broke.

Well, a wireless and smaller PSVR could turn out to be very interesting next gen. Though I generally prefer when manufacturers innovate through software (e.g. Dreams, Splatoon) rather than hardware (e.g. Vita, Wii U). The PS4 has given me loads of fun so if that's a boring console, I won't necessarily be unhappy with a "boring" PS5 either.

Consumers have largely ignored novel features on the PS platforms so why wouldn't Sony go with something that works instead?

2000: PS2 backwards compatibility (with PS1)
2003: PlayStation EyeToy
2003: PSX
2004: Cross Play (Final Fantasy XI cross play between PS2 and PC)
2006: Remote Play (PS3 on PSP)
2006: Sixaxis
2006: PS3 backwards compatibility (with PS2 and PS1)
2008: PSP Cradle (PSP on TV)
2008: PlayStation Home
2008: PlayTV
2009: PSP Go
2009: Stereoscopic 3D gaming
2009: Invizimals (real world AR monster hunting)
2010: PlayStation Plus (on PS3)
2011: Xperia Play
2012: Cross Buy
2013: Remote Play (PS4 on PS Vita, PC, Mac, Mobile)
2013: PlayStation TV
2014: Share Play
2014: PlayStation Now

They won by not innovating significantly and utilizing a strong marketing strategy focused on their strengths.
They wisely decided to heed the notion that you should never interrupt your enemy while they are busy making a mistake.

PS4 won because of first party games, not hard to figure out really ...

The Forbes artical makes them sound a bit salty to be honest. Microsoft wanted to do something that most console gamers don't want. Most console gamers just want to sit down with controller and play games. It's simple, it effective and it's not broken. Sony knows this and stuck to it and they should do exactly the same again. Let's not forget they put so much into bringing out AAAgames again which helps.

The PS4 won the moment they went the safe route while the competition fucked it up.

I think sony marketing partnership with next Big IP from Bungie (Destiny) is often overlooked, hype for destiny among gamers was intense. It was almost marketed as being exclusive to PS4, MS wasnt even allowed to use it for their PR marketing

Forbes is like a blog, user generated content so they sell ads, you do know that right? That's why the author is called a "Contributor" fancy name for blogger.

Any way, ps4 won because sony has been consistently willing to invest into developing games, new ips, not afraid to sign cheques to game development. This started mid-cycle for the ps3, this is why ps3 had such a diverse library of games. Gamers caught on and all adopted ps4s.

I like how it says that gamers found Microsoft's idea confusing. lol

No, it was silly and unnecessary.