Questions how PlayStation Plans for the next generation of consoles have been on the minds of many gamers recently, especially after Sony shocked many by raising the price of the PS5 once again. Future Xbox was also a big topic of conversation. With Phil Spencer and his expected successor Sarah Bond out of the picture, new CEO Asha Sharma could lead Xbox in a new direction. PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix are already confirmed to be in the works, but it's unclear how far along these next-gen consoles are and whether they'll be delayed or not.
Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S faced significant supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic. What was supposed to be a new and exciting generation of games turned out to be a two-year struggle for companies and players alike, as scarcity issues kicked off the generation at a snail's pace. By 2023, the supply chain issues were mostly resolved, causing both consoles to hit the big time years after launch. Now that there are PS6 rumors and Xbox Project Helix speculation, a lot of gamers feel like it's too soon for the new generation to debut. However, both Sony and Microsoft have short time frames to exploit before the new generation feels outdated.
PlayStation Insider estimates how much it will cost Sony to make the PS6
An insider shares his rough estimate of how much it could cost Sony to produce the next-generation PlayStation console.
PS6 and Xbox Project Helix need to act sooner rather than later to get the most out of their next-gen products
One place where there's a lot of talk about next-gen wave logistics is Reddit. Leaks from Moore's Law is Dead YouTube channel are sparking interesting conversations about Sony's future plans, and a comment from Reddit user XJ–0461 really caught my eye. Leaks from Moore's Law is Dead claim that the PS6 is “not many years away”, and XJ–0461 has been firm on such a bold claim:
Despite the global trends, the PS6 cannot be delayed too long from the original plan because they have an overview of how strong the technology is where they want to release. If they wait too long, they will launch too far behind current technology.
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This is a solid point that really gets to the heart of why the Moore's Law is Dead leaks are probably not too far from accurate. Of course, every leak and rumor should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism, but the technology that Sony and Microsoft are working on for their next-gen console will only be impressive for so long. The general expectation is that the next-gen console will be released in 2027 or early 2028. This is purely speculation, but it makes sense if we look back at the time between past consoles.
|
PlayStation release gap |
Xbox release gap |
|
PS1 – 1995 |
ON |
|
PS2 – 2000 |
Xbox – 2001 |
|
PS3 – 2006 |
Xbox 360 – 2005 |
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PS4 – 2013 |
Xbox One – 2013 |
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PS5 – 2020 |
Xbox Series X/S – 2020 |
Since Sony and Microsoft are direct competitors, they continued to release consoles at least one year in a row. The PlayStation and Xbox consoles have been on the same timeline since 2013 at this point, so it only makes sense that the two would once again expect to launch in the same year. If both companies follow past trends, then 2027 would be an ideal target year. The Moore's Law is Dead leaks were specifically about the PS6 and how Sony's work on a power saving mode is a “Trojan horse” for the PS6 handheld. But that doesn't mean these leaks aren't just as important to Xbox fans. According to Moore's Law, the source is Dead, Sony's PlayGo is a direct response to the Xbox Smart Delivery system. The source even claimed that this is further proof that Sony is deep into PS6 development:
It allows developers to organize “chunks” of different assets and textures for each PlayStation console so that that console only downloads exactly the files it will use… This would only be possible if this “mode” was to be the entire basis of a new console that might need its own modifications.
The next-gen price point is the biggest question gamers want answered
It's no secret that the technology industry as a whole is currently facing serious challenges. Due to the lack of RAM and the general economic problems going on right now, companies like Sony and Microsoft are raising prices. Xbox Game Pass prices were increased last year, and this month the PS5 saw another price increase. It wasn't a small change either, as the three models saw price increases ranging between $100 and $150. There was understandable concern that the combination of a lack of RAM and rising manufacturing costs could either delay the next generation or introduce consoles that were far too expensive for the average gamer.
On the other hand, the Moore's Law is Dead source also claimed that Sony is aiming for a console that is cheaper to manufacture, which would lower the price. Analysts have been predicting prices for next-gen consoles, and Pachter Factor podcast host Michael Pachter has even predicted that high prices could end console gaming as we know it. Between Moore's Law being the more optimistic outlook of Dead's source and other analysts predicting consoles for $1,000 or more, there's no way to really know what Sony and Microsoft will do.
Next-Gen may feel like it's coming too soon, but Sony and Microsoft probably disagree
The news that the next-gen Xbox can play PC games and that the PS6 could potentially be twice as powerful as both its predecessor and the Xbox Series X/S is an interesting possibility, and Sony and Microsoft will want to introduce their technological advances as soon as possible. Waiting too long means both companies risk launching products that just don't look that impressive anymore.
The current generation has faced some rocky moments, and the PS6 and Xbox Project Helix will hopefully avoid the same fate. Right now, these next-gen console release dates are hidden in the shadows. Only time will tell what Sony and Microsoft decide to do, but it will be in whatever timeline they think is best.
