Life cycle PlayStation 4 was truly impressive as the console has maintained a strong position for almost 12 years now. The legacy that Sony managed to build with the PlayStation 4 is a reminder of the console's longevity, but with its successor, the PlayStation 5, now in its fifth year, the PS4's days are coming to an end.
Sony's push to kill the PS4 for good has been increasing recently. Earlier this month, Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson reported that Sony plans to end some PS4 game services in 2026. Despite these efforts to put the PS5 in the spotlight, there are still many gamers who were fiercely loyal to the PS4. However, as Sony looks to the future, older-gen fans are starting to run out of options, and November is a stark reminder of that transition, as PS4 gamers only have one major title to look forward to next month.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the only major PS4 release this November
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is due out on November 14th.
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The game will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
This year was largely defined by current generation exclusives. Titles like Split Fiction, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Borderlands 4and upcoming Outer worlds 2 everyone has finally embraced the current gen offering and left the Xbox One and PS4 world behind. WITH Black Ops 7 There's at least something substantial for PS4 players to look forward to when it arrives in November, but it's also a clear sign of how options are shrinking.
More interestingly, Call of Dutybiggest competitor Battlefieldalso made the jump to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S exclusivity Battlefield 6. This is not a Call of Duty vs. Battlefield story, but it's still another fascinating piece of evidence that shows how this year felt like a defining moment for the PS4 and its nearing end.
After Black Ops 7 hits the scene, the gaming experience will only become sparser for PS4 users. Black Ops 7 may not be a Sony exclusive, but 2026 has some big console exclusives waiting in the wings, leaving PS4 players with a tough decision to make or skip the current generation.
As of March 2025, about 30% of PlayStation Network's monthly active users were said to still be playing PS4.
Titles like Split Fiction, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Borderlands 4and upcoming Outer worlds 2 everyone has finally embraced the current gen offering and left the Xbox One and PS4 world behind.
PS5 exclusivity confirmed for the future
- Saros (March 20, 2026)
- Marvel's Wolverine (Fall 2026)
- Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophet (TBD)
Apart from these Sony exclusives, the gaming juggernaut GTA 6 is just around the corner and it's set to be one of the biggest launches ever for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Unlike the PS4, PS5 players also have six major releases to look forward to in November, further demonstrating Sony's shift in focus to newer consoles.
The PS4's dwindling capabilities mark the bittersweet end of an era
While this is a bummer for a lot of gamers still holding onto a PS4, it's also a necessary step forward. The PS4's 12-year life cycle is an impressive feat indeed, but with the PS5 now five years in the cycle, it's time for the focus to shift. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply shortages, the PS5 took longer to hit its stride, which makes PS4 loyalty even more meaningful, but now that the PS5 has taken its rightful place in the spotlight, Black Ops 7 is probably one of the last AAA heavy hitters to be released for console.
- Mark
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Sony
- Original release date
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November 15, 2013
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$399.99, €399.99, £349.99
- Operating system
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OS Orbis
- Processor
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Semi-custom 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar APU
- Resolution
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480p – 4K UHD
