We'll have to agree to disagree on 'coherence' here, but regarding sales: PS5 is only tracking 1.2 million behind the PS4. And we had Covid and increased hardware/ software pricing. And in the last quarter aligned, PS5 sales were 300K more than PS4. 

We haven't even begun to see the possible effect of MS's decisions for Xbox or how something like GTA6 will affect PS5 sales going forward. But, there's a very strong possibility that by the PS6 launch, PS5 sales are ahead of PS4 launch aligned. But, of course, we have to see how things go.

So Sony selling less hardware aligned with PS4 isn't really an issue right now: it isn't happening because of a lack of interest in PS as a gaming device or because of their software strategy. And as we move into PS6, the use of PSSR (1st gen in PS5 pro) an the hints at a handheld PS (low powered mode in latest beta) all suggest that Sony are doing what they can to remain dominant in the hardware space. 

And with the Xbox situation, there's obviously an opportunity to grab new users, but they will definitely be fighting for it alongside Nintendo and PC hardware offerings. 

To me it's been an interesting from the business side seeing what random trend/money making solutions/deals over the years. Getting disappointed, ignoring many of it and so on. Thinking up what I'd like to see in my head, never expecting it to happen of course.

The customers that enjoy it good on you, continue to enjoy it if it works for you the IP direction, the hardware, backlogs and so on. I never had issues with PS3 gen as I still had things I wanted, I still do now have plenty to pick up of unique games, old trends I enjoyed the structure of as still had compelling ideas in them.

Those that don't for their various reasons, whatever they may be compared to my reasons I don't care for 9th gen at all. Boring console gimmicks, gameplay design is boring, graphics, stories, movesets, level design, leadership, etc.

And me who is just looking from the outside going yeah I will stay on PS4/Xbox One or continue with retro like I have since 2017 as to me I haven't cared at all for many directions of 1st/3rd parties on any of the 3 platforms. Nintendo a fair bit but even still, maybe I might get the consoles years from now (people around me have them and I have used a PS5 for Rift Apart and hated it I gave up before Blizar so what a few levels, even if Blizar is best level, Space Marine 2 I beat it was a 1.5 that was fine, alongside GT7 briefly and hated/will get the PS4 version but still hate it anyway)

That and still find not a single game I want to spend my money on as this gen is just so gameplay structurally boring and not appealed to me at all, but I have bought plenty of PS3/360/Wii, PS2/PSP/DS/OG Xbox as well, otherwise odd PS1/GameCube/GBA games because they had ideas/direction I was interested in (Ride 5/WRC 23 maybe but their formulas haven't impressed and they are racing games, they go cheap anyway).

So besides odd Indies as I am picky there too, nostalgic Indies don't get a pass from me unless they have depth and I haven't seen it really either. Odd ones that are fair have been enjoyable, mostly in the puzzle side (not as good as many PS1/PSP ones I enjoyed for the first time but still, even tactics games have been hit and miss), not the other genres I want to have good ideas but haven't.

Otherwise anything else I got on PS4 or Switch 1 I have already I think unless forgetting some, or they are older, I mean what other then Rhythm Heaven Groove a niche Nintendo IP in 2026, I have just been ignoring all modern era releases for 2025, last few I cared about were 2022 or 2023 or got a year later. 2025 has been retro, not as many as 2024 of completing but still retro purchases.

Any I would have been interested in on PS5/Xbox Series flopped or I have other people around me that bought them so I know what they are like/what they offer.

Other then that I'm just reading PS5/Xbox Series/Switch 2 news every day or few days, not actually engaging with any of the software/hardware as I haven't been impressed at all.

Job Listing Reveals PlayStation Studios Titles to Expand Across Xbox, Nintendo, Steam, Epic, and Mobile - News

It looks like they're doubling and tripling down.

Anything specific in that job listing? Because Sony's MLB game and last year's LEGO Horizon were already on Switch, so it might just be more MLB.

EDIT: Apparently nothing specific, but it does say "expansion" and it's for a leadership position, so it's at least a mid-term strategy.

Still far from a "suicide".

PS5 will still be the go-to console for people wanting to play COD/GTA/Assassin's Creed/EA FC/etc, stuff like Horizon or Spiderman coming to Xbox/Switch 2 won't change that. People primarily buy PS console for third party games, not first party.

What makes you think that? 

I feel your pain here. I have to special-order games like Clair Obscure from Canada just to get a physical copy. Doom 3 I was looking forward to but it's just a 5MB stub on disc. I want to buy so many Switch 2 games but a ton of them are key-card only. I'm being pushed out of the modern console market for pretty much anything other than Nintendo games and boutique stuff. 

I don't mind buying stuff on PC, but only if it's heavily discounted and only if I'm damn good and ready to play it. What's the point of buying a game digitally just to let it sit in a backlog of shame, when you can buy it anytime in the future? With physical games I often buy them just to know I have them and won't have to hunt them down years later. Denuvo and other DRM issues really keep me from buying a lot of stuff on PC. 

But anyway to take this back to the topic at hand, with PS6 I'll be forced to skip it because I doubt it will even have a disc drive. So no exclusives. No disc drive. That's not a console anymore. Maybe Sony will surprise me with a PS6 disc drive attachment but even if they do, how many publishers are going to properly support it? 

If you look at the most played games among PS5 gamers, it's not Horizon or Astro Bot, it's Fortnite, COD, Roblox, GTA, Minecraft, etc.

The main selling point of Playstation virtually since its inception has been that it's the go-to place for virtually all the big third party games.

That's it? That's the only reason? The games you mentioned are most played not because they are the most wanted but because they are designed to be played eternally. Playtime =/= money. Playtime =/= reason for buying a system. 

I mean you can look at the sales charts as well; their first party games do well, but COD/GTA/etc sell more.

PS is the primary console for AAA third party titles and most people will still buy it for that regardless of first party stuff going multiplat, Xbox is irrelevant at this point, they're already on PC, and Switch 2 is different enough that it doesn't obsolete PS's niche.