Sony CFO Lin Tao has said the PlayStation 5 is only halfway through its lifecycle, with next-gen hardware likely not arriving until 2027 or 2028.
Sony has said the PlayStation 5 is “only in the middle of [its] journey”.
Speaking during Sony’s latest quarterly earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao told investors the company sees the PS5 – which launched on November 12, 2020 – as only being halfway through its lifecycle, noting that console lifespans are getting longer.
Tao said: “Our view is that compared to conventional console lifecycles.
“Looking at the PS4 lifecycle, it seems to be getting longer and longer. Especially the PS4, which was launched in 2013, and it’s been over a decade since then, but there are many active users enjoying the consol.
“So from that perspective, we believe that the PS5 is only in the middle of the journey, and we are really planning to expand it even further.”
Sony’s comments come as the PlayStation 5 marks its fifth anniversary, with sales surpassing 84 million units worldwide.
The console has seen a resurgence in demand this year, boosted by major exclusives such as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei, alongside a broader rollout of the slimmer PS5, the top-of-the-line PS5 Pro and the PlayStation Portal handheld.
Tao’s remarks suggest that the PlayStation 6 may still be years away, likely arriving around 2027–2028, with Sony expected to continue supporting PS5 titles well into the next decade.
Analysts note that this strategy reflects market realities: keeping games available on both current and next-gen platforms allows developers to reach the largest audience possible, a model seen across franchises like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto.
PlayStation 5 is ‘only in the middle of the journey’, Sony insists
