The next PlayStation is already in the works, says Sony’s new president

The
PlayStation 9, coming in 2078, was first advertised as a goof by
Sony in an ad campaign for the PlayStation 2.
Sony

• Sony’s new president, Kenichiro Yoshida, spoke
  about the successor to the PlayStation 4 in a recent
  interview.
• “It’s necessary to have a next-generation hardware,”
  Yoshida told the Financial Times.
• This isn’t the first time Sony’s spoken about the
  currently-in-development game console; PlayStation division
  head John Kodera said the company is
  using the next three years to work on the next
  PlayStation.

Five years ago, in 2013, the PlayStation 4 launched. If history
is any indication, we’re due for a new PlayStation in the next
five years or so. 

Sony apparently agrees: “At this point, what I can say is it’s
necessary to have a next-generation hardware,” new Sony president
Kenichiro Yoshida
told the Financial Times in a recent interview. Yoshida
stopped short of calling the console “PlayStation 5,” but it’s
widely expected to be the name for Sony’s next PlayStation
console.

Most interesting is the fact that Yoshida referred to the new
console as “next-generation hardware.” Rather than focusing on
streaming games over the internet — a la Netflix — Sony is
apparently working on a more powerful box for running prettier
games. 

It’s the traditional format for the video game business: Produce
a new, more powerful game console every 5 to 10 years that’s
distinct from previous hardware generations.

The PlayStation was succeeded by the PlayStation 2; the
PlayStation 2 was succeeded by the PlayStation 3; and the
PlayStation 3 was succeeded by the PlayStation 4. Each was its
own hardware “generation,” more capable than the previous
generation.

Both Sony and Microsoft altered that cycle this generation by
releasing half-step upgrades in the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox
One X, respectively. Neither outright replaced the base console —
instead, they offered better graphics and performance for the
same games.

The PlayStation 4 is the
base model of Sony’s current console, whereas the PlayStation 4
Pro is a visual step up. It also costs $100
more.
Sony

Sources
speaking with the Financial Times said that the next
PlayStation console, “might not represent a major departure from
the PS4.” That’s not such a surprise: More than ever, players are
demanding that their digital game libraries carry forward. It
wouldn’t be a huge shock to hear that the PlayStation 5 could
play all PlayStation 4 games — especially those purchased
digitally.

But don’t expect the PlayStation 5 any time soon. 

“We will use the next three years to prepare the next step,”
PlayStation head John Kodera said back in May,
according to The Wall Street Journal, in a reference to the
PlayStation 4’s successor. That puts Sony’s next console on track
for launch somewhere in the vicinity of 2021. 

Given that the PlayStation 4 continues to sell tremendously well,
it’s no surprise that Sony would want to hold off for as long as
possible. Microsoft’s Xbox One is in a distant second place, and
Nintendo’s Switch is in a league of its own.

There’s at least one other good reason that Sony isn’t moving on
from the PlayStation 4 just yet — the PlayStation 4 Pro exists.

PlayStation 4 exclusives like “Spider-Man” look best on
the PlayStation 4 Pro.
Sony/Marvel

Less than two years ago, Sony launched the PlayStation 4 Pro: A
more powerful update to the PlayStation 4. It plays the same
games, but makes them look prettier and load more quickly. It’s a
half step up, in terms of horsepower, from the PlayStation 4, but
it’s a meaningful mid-point between the PlayStation 4 that went
on sale in 2013 and the PlayStation 5 that’s expected around
2021. 

Sony’s no doubt hoping that you’ll consider the PS4 Pro for now,
but don’t worry if you’re not: Something new is also in the
works.