Seems fairly unlikely that Sony would replace PS4 right now while it is doing so well. This is going to be a big year for the console with three big first-party titles and a huge thrid-party and i don't think Sony would distract from that

Then the authors speculation is going wild. End of 2019 is realistic, it matches the cycle. But 2017 was up in sales for PS4, no way they release the successor the year after the peak year. And the devkits being out means not this year. Games take a long time to develop, to deliver early devkits for feedback from game manufacturers and maybe use the feedback to change some stuff seems not that far-fetched. The early devkits also help the game makers to get games ready for launch. If devkits get in their hands only months before release, they cannot finish the games in time.

Basically a six year cycle is the norm, although deviations were always happening. PS3 lasted seven years to the successor for instance. Only Sega was often cutting it shorter.

What are you talking about? PS2 release in 2000 (march in japan, end of the year in the US and europe), the PS3 released end of 2006 (early 2007 for europe). PS1 released end of 1994 in japan and fall 1995 in europe and the US. So the PS1 lasted nearly six years in japan, and five years in the west, but basically because Sony was adjusting the worldwide release dates nearer to each other.

What he said. ^^

The PS2 sold well after the release of the PS3 for multiple reasons. For one Sony was still expanding into worldwide markets. Also the PS3 struggled out of the gate, mainly because of the hight price, but also because HD seemingly delayed game development at first (WiiU run into the same struggles with long development cycles. For these reasons the PS2 was still very attractive. I doubt the same happens with PS4. It didn't happen for PS3. Back then people said, the PS3 will sell well past the Wii-numbers, because look how well PS2 did after the release of PS3. Back then I already pointed out, that the PS2 was an abberation in that regard, and I was right.

Genesis came out three years after the Master System. N64 came out five years after SNES. Gamecube came out five years after N64 and Wii came out five years after Gamecube. Dreamcast came out four years after Saturn. PS2 came out five years after PS1. Xbox 360 came out four years after Xbox. Switch came out four years after Wii U.

So, since NES launched, which is the modern era, eight home consoles launched within five years or less. Three consoles launched within six years and only two were seven or more years... unless my numbers are off.

Hey, if Sony releases the PS5 this year, it could struggle out of the gate and the PS4 could pull a PS2. :P The fatigue of the last generation being so long had a lot to do with the PS3 dying so quickly after the PS4 launched.

2018 would be a huge mistake. Even 2019 launch won’t be that great either.

They said they wanted a shorter time between announcement and release of hardware, which started with the PS4 pro being officially announced only a month or two before release. They referred to Apple on it I believe.

But I don't think a release this year is a good idea, and I don't think it will happen.

As for the rest of the rumour, they apparently leaked the PS4 pro, Scorpio and nvidia/Nintendo partnership, don't know if that's true but if it is then they have to be taken seriously.