https://x.com/Genki_JPN/status/1988200080101569014
Further evidence that the next transition will be slower. And it just makes sense.
PS4's life (hardware) was cut short by Sony who initially intended to convert PS4 players to PS5 as fast as possible. But the console's active players remained so strong several years into the generation. So the next transition will take these changes into account.
"New hardware sales" is no longer Sony's highest priority. Their highest priority is sustaining and expanding on their active playerbase across all consoles. So between:
Scenario 1) PS6 sells 40 million in 2 years. Combined monthly active users at 115 million. Lower revenue and profitability.
Scenario 2) PS6 sells 25 million in 2 years. Combined monthly activen users at 135 million. Higher revenue and profitability.
Sony would take the 2nd scenario in a heartbeat.
Historically, there has been a link between new console sales and platform success. But this link is weakening, and many players continue to game on old consoles, particularly PS4.
The PS6 hardware might have a weaker start but potentially longer legs than PS5, which in turn may have stronger late life sales than PS4, whose production was ended too early.
Feels like PS5 will sell anywhere between 120-140 million units when all is said and done.
