With the wind at their back, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan and head of PlayStation Studios Hermen Hulst recently presented the state of the PlayStation 5 ecosystem to investors and hinted at what’s coming in the near future. Among other things, the company promised new IPs, more live-service games, and a big push behind cloud gaming.
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While Sony’s big gaming showcase will offer specific details on new game announcements, release dates, and potential hardware refreshes, the investor presentation was a broader look at the current state of the PlayStation business and where it’s headed next. We got a pretty granular breakdown of some interesting sales data as well as cryptic teases of upcoming initiatives, like Sony’s rumored cloud gaming handheld, Q Lite [Update 5/25/2023 11:07 a.m. ET: the devices was revealed in the showcase and it’s wild looking]. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the company’s latest business meeting.
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PS VR2 is already outselling the first virtual reality headset
Sony’s new virtual reality headset is a comfortable but pricey bundle that requires users to already own a PS5, but initial sales numbers show it’s actually tracking ahead of the first PS VR headset. PS VR2 sold 600,000 units in its first six weeks, while the PS VR1 sold closer to 550,000. Whether that momentum will build the platform into something more than an expensive accessory for enthusiasts remains to be seen.
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Analysts previously called for a price cut to fuel sales, and it’s unclear if big new games will arrive without a larger install base, especially as companies like Meta lay off VR developers amid cutbacks.
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Sony plans to invest a ton in new franchises
Since the PS5 launched, fans have been waiting to see what new IPs would grow out of the latest console generation. So far it’s been mostly sequels to series that already existed or got their start on the PS4 like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Spider-Man. But Sony revealed that new franchises are planned. PlayStation Studios’ investment in new IP will hit 50 percent in 2025, compared to only 20 percent in 2019. However the lag in production means we might not end up seeing the results of that spending until late in the PS5's life cycle.
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Live-service games will be over half of that spending
Sony’s first-party single-player games have been setting the bar for story-driven blockbusters for years now, from The Last of Us to Ghost of Tsushima. It’s clear the company now wants to do the same for live-service multiplayer games as well, and will be leveraging its recent acquisition of Destiny 2 maker Bungie to achieve that.
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The breakdown of total spending on content this year will be 55 percent on live-service business models vs 45 percent on “traditional” ones. The difference will be even more stark by 2025, when live-service spending will reach 60 percent of seemingly all production costs. It’s possible some of those games will still have a traditional single-player emphasis and just include cosmetic shops, like Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Others are sure to be multiplayer-focused affairs more like Destiny 2.
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PS5 owners spend a ton on microtransactions
Prestigious exclusives might help sell consoles, but it’s not what makes the most money once players are locked in. Sony revealed that PS5 players are spending over $100 more than PS4 players were at a similar point in the console cycle. That extra money isn’t coming from more games sold, however. It’s coming from spending on add-on content, meaning paid DLC and microtransactions.
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Full game sales actually dropped by 10 percent on the PS5, while add-on content grew by 210 percent. Although Sony collects a 30 percent commission on all in-game purchases in Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and Apex Legends on the platform, it would stand to make a ton more if those purchases were made inside its own first-party exclusives.
Spider-Man sold great on PC while The Last of Us Part I is off to a slower start
2018’s Spider-Man didn’t arrive on PC until last year. In the eight months since it hit PC, the game sold an additional 1.5 million copies on the platform. The Last of Us Part I, meanwhile, has sold 368,000 copies since it arrived on Steam in March. That’s not bad considering it’s a remaster of a decade-old game many people have already played on PS3, PS4, and PS5. But it’s not exactly God of War numbers, which sold nearly a million copies in its first two and a half months on PC.
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It’s not clear how much The Last of Us Part I’s rough performance and poor optimization at launch hurt its initial momentum, compared to the overall increase in sales of the game across all platforms following the success of the hit HBO adaptation. It seems like the port was in part a learning exercise for Naughty Dog, potentially as Sony eyes bringing the rest of its games to PC.
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Half of all game releases won’t just be on PS5 by 2025
In the past Sony seemed afraid to cannibalize console sales by releasing its games on PC. Now it’s clear the company is ready to do just the opposite, porting its exclusives and investing in potential mobile spin-offs. The company plans for 50 percent of its releases in 2025 to be either PC or mobile games.
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A lot of players are paying for the more expensive PlayStation Plus subscriptions
When Sony unveiled its overhauled PS Plus program, creating three separate tiers and folding its PlayStation Now streaming service into the priciest one, it seemed needlessly complicated. The highest tier, Premium, also didn’t seem worth the extra price in exchange for a slim selection of PlayStation Classics and cloud gaming features that are still a work-in-progress.
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It turns out a lot of people were willing to upgrade, however. Sony says 14.1 million subscribers joined the higher tiers in the first 10 months, which now represent 30 percent of all PS Plus users. And Premium actually accounts for the majority of those with 17 percent of total subscribers, while the middle-tier, Extra, only has 13 percent.
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The first PlayStation mobile game will arrive as early as 2023
Sony said it’s currently “partnered with established teams on games,” and “bringing some of our most celebrated IP to mobile,” with the first set to release in fiscal year 2023. The company acquired mobile maker Savage Game Studios last August and Bungie has also long been rumored to be working on a mobile version of Destiny 2. According to Sony’s charts, the mobile gaming market is already bigger than console and PC gaming combined, and it only projects that gap to widen in the coming years.
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Sony’s doubling-down on cloud gaming
In the most cryptic part of the presentation, CEO Jim Ryan said the company has “some fairly interesting and quite aggressive plans to accelerate our initiatives in the space of the cloud.” He didn’t elaborate on what those are, but made the comment in the context of mobile gaming and portability. It certainly raises eyebrows since Sony has also now revealed a cloud gaming handheld codenamed Project Q that would be a remote play accessory for the PS5.
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PS Plus also doesn’t currently support cloud gaming on smartphones either, requiring you to use a PS4, PS5, or PC. We do know that Sony has been developing a number of patents to decrease latency while streaming games, and The Verge previously reported that the company is hiring for a number of roles to build out its cloud gaming infrastructure. Cloud gaming has been at the center of the regulatory fight over Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard, and it seems like whatever the outcome of that proposed merger, Sony wants to take back some of the video game streaming market share it previously ceded to Game Pass and xCloud.
FAQs
Is PS5 worth buying in 2023? ›
If you want to play the latest games that are currently available and coming in the future, buying a PS5 base variant in 2023 might be a good idea. The PS5 is a powerful console that can handle the most demanding games, and it will likely continue to be relevant for several years.
What is the PlayStation 5 about? ›The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America, and South Korea, and was released worldwide one week later.
Why is PlayStation the best? ›The CD technology in the Playstation range of products has enabled the games to hold more information. And bigger space, allows bigger and better games. The original Sony PlayStation was launched in Japan in 1994, and '95 saw the Sony PlayStation released all across the world.
How did PlayStation get so big? ›The first ever Sony PlayStation was launched in December 1994. It became a massive success particularly because it was cheaper than its main competitors such as Sega Saturn and the Nintendo 64.
Will PS5 last for 7 years? ›PS5 will have at least seven-year shelf life as PS6 won't appear before 2027, says report | What Hi-Fi?
Will PS5 shortage end in 2024? ›According to a slide from Sony's presentation, though the PS5 undersold the PS4's trend line, the company expects the current-gen console to close the gap in 2022 and overtake it in 2023.
Will there be a PS6? ›PS6 release: This is the key year for Sony
Whether the PS6 will arrive in late 2027, or sometime over the following years, isn't clear. It's also too early for these plans to be set in stone, and a lot of things could change over the next 4-plus years.
PS6 Price Rumors
The last few consoles launched between $400 and $500. There's no telling what kind of hardware, extra features, or improvements the next-gen PlayStation could have that would sway its price one way or the other. For now, assume it could cost as much as $600.
P.S. 6 was founded in 1894 and named after the feminist author and reformer Lillie Devereaux Blake. The school was originally located several blocks to the north on 85th Street. The current red brick building on Madison Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets was constructed in 1953.
Which PlayStation is better? ›The PlayStation 5 offers the best console gaming experience thanks to its next-gen hardware, exclusives, and 4K Blu-ray drive. Though it costs $100 more than digital edition console, the standard PS5 model lets you play physical games on disc.
What's better PS or Xbox? ›
Processing and graphics hardware
The Xbox Series X is "four times more powerful than Xbox One X". It sports a custom Zen 2 eight-core processor running at 3.8GHz per core. The PlayStation 5 runs on an eight-core Zen 2 processor too, but at 3.5GHz per core. RAM inside both is similar: 16GB GDDR6.
PlayStation 2 remains the greatest console in gaming history. PS2 improved every aspect of its predecessor and presented a solid console that dominated its generation in every way.
Why is PlayStation so addictive? ›What Causes Gaming Addiction? Video games are designed to be addictive using state-of-the-art behavioral psychology to keep you hooked. Games are immersive experiences that provide you with a high amount of dopamine, and overexposure to this level of stimulation can cause structural changes to your brain 1.
Why is Sony so successful? ›Innovation is key to sustaining success. Sony faced fierce competition from other established companies as well as foreign policies. However, its main ingredient of success remained its powers of innovation – from the VCR to VHS and the mighty Walkman.
Why are new consoles so big? ›Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are big consoles, compared to previous generation models. Part of the reason is assumed to be that these are basically fast PCs in console digs, with custom hardware based on AMD's Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics architectures. And that is true.
Is a PS5 Pro coming? ›Well, it took three years for the PlayStation 4 to get a new version but as you'll hear, a slightly different version of the PlayStation 5 might not be that tardy to join the latest console generation – we could see some new PlayStation hardware action in 2023, though the PS5 Pro is likely to be with us in 2024.
How long will Xbox One last? ›The Xbox One lasts generally for about 4-7 years. However, Microsoft says that, with proper maintenance, the console should last up to 10 years. After all, the lifespan of an Xbox One can vary depending on a variety of factors, including usage, maintenance, and storage conditions.
Will PS5 shortage end? ›The Future of the PS5
The PS5 Shortage will likely last through 2023 so long as the semiconductor shortage and scalpers continue to impact supply and availability. It will still be quite some time before you can walk into your local electronics store and walk out with a PS5 unscathed.
Despite this, the tech industry is dealing with semiconductor shortages that have made manufacturing devices like the PS5 much more difficult, and some estimate this shortage will last well into 2023 (and possibly 2024).
How long will PS5 era last? ›Based on the above math, I expect the PS5 and Xbox Series X to last through 2027 or maybe 2028.
What caused PS5 shortage? ›
The console was released in November 2020, but was very difficult to obtain for most of its lifespan. A semiconductor chip shortage limited Sony's production of new PS5 consoles. Other supply chain issues prompted by the global coronavirus pandemic didn't help.
Will there be a PS10? ›Yep, even PS10. Sure, this is just a forward-thinking protective measure from Sony suits in Japan. But let's do some quick maths: let's say we have a console transition every five years (could be longer, could be shorter) - then we're looking at PS10 in 2045.
How much will the PS5 Pro cost? ›That means the PS5 Pro will replace the current-gen PS5 and launch at the same price of $499 in the market in 2024.
What will the next PlayStation be called? ›Sony might be working on a new, sleeker gaming console called PS5 Slim. Let's sift through the rumors and see what we can expect from this upcoming, but unconfirmed, PlayStation console.
Is the PS8 real? ›Eventually we got to drop the charade, and Sony confirmed that it was, in fact, making the PS5. And if there could be any doubt about Sony's now well-established nomenclature, the company now appears to have trademarked the PS6, PS7, PS8, PS9 and PS10.
How much is PS2 now? ›The PS2 as of today sells for $35 – $120 depending on the condition of the console itself and if you have all of the accessories, including the original box, cables and controllers. The PS2 first arrived back in 2000, making it 20 years old!
How much is a PS5 in real life? ›The PS5 price is $499.99 in the US, £479.99 in the UK, and $749.99 in Australia.
How old is ps 1? ›PS One. On 7 July 2000, Sony released the PS One (stylised as PS one), a smaller, redesigned version of the original PlayStation. It was the highest-selling console through the end of the year, outselling all other consoles—including the PlayStation 2.
What is the oldest PS? ›The original PlayStation, released in Japan on December 3, 1994, was the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series of console and hand-held game devices.
How old is the PS4 in years? ›| The original PlayStation 4 console with a DualShock 4 controller | |
|---|---|
| Release date | NA: November 15, 2013 PAL: November 29, 2013 JP: February 22, 2014 |
| Lifespan | 2013–present |
| Introductory price | US$399.99, €399.99, £349.99 |
| Discontinued | JP: January 5, 2021 (some models) |
Why Xbox is better than PS5? ›
Both have 8-Core CPUs from AMD, but the Xbox Series X just exceeds the PS5 with 3.86GHz compared to 3.5GHz. The Xbox Series X also comes out on top in terms of storage, offering a robust one Terabyte SSD compared to the PS5's 825GB.
Is the PS5 stronger than PS4? ›Referring to that single number, the PS5's GPU is roughly eight times more powerful than the PS4 and two and a half times more powerful than the PS4 Pro. Sony is able to achieve such high performance because of the PS5's 36 CUs and higher clock speed.
Has the PS5 sold better than PS4? ›Despite facing supply chain issues at the beginning of its lifespan, sales of Sony's PlayStation 5 have now outpaced those of the PlayStation 4.
Does Xbox have VR? ›As demand for immersive VR games is increasing exponentially, many gamers are questioning why the latest Xbox series X does not support VR. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, also stated in 2021 that there are no plans for creating VR hardware for Xbox.
What's cheaper Xbox or PS5? ›Both consoles cost $499, then, but if you're happy to ditch the disc drive, the PS5 Digital Edition is available for $399. However, as we pointed out in our PS5 disc vs Digital comparison, it's cheaper to go with the standard PS5 in the long run.
Does PS4 run better than Xbox? ›Most games run better on PS4, but we recommend looking up side-by-side comparisons for games you're most interested in playing. There isn't much of a difference in frame rate, however. For games targeting 60 frames per second, the PS4 has a slight edge. Most games on these machines, however, target 30 fps.
Is a console better than a PC? ›PCs feature a wide range of components that can be easily upgraded, while consoles generally use pre-built parts that cannot be modified or upgraded. PCs also typically offer more performance, as they have powerful graphics cards, multiple processors, and additional random access memory (RAM).
What is the most powerful PlayStation? ›The PS4 Pro specs and features that drive the most powerful PS4 console.
How do I detox my child from video games? ›- Play a video game with your child. ...
- For one week, keep a log of the time spent playing video games. ...
- Show them what that amount of time represents in other activities. ...
- Arrange active indoor or outdoor activities for your children and their friends.
For kids over the age of 6, the American Academy of Pediatrics says no more than 60 minutes on school days and 2 hours on non-school days. Kids under 6 should spend closer to 30 minutes. It's also appropriate for parents to know and approve the games their kids are playing.
Is Sony losing money on PS4? ›
Sony sold 500,000 PS4 consoles in the most recent quarter, bringing lifetime sales up to an impressive 116.4 million. It took Sony years to stop losing money on PS3 sales, but the company stopped selling the PS4 at a loss around six months after its debut in 2013.
What can Sony do to improve? ›Further business diversification can increase Sony's growth. For example, building on its current competencies, the company can explore opportunities in related industries. In addition, Sony has the opportunity to develop new products to create new income streams.
What brings Sony the most money? ›PlayStation 5 sales hit record
For the fiscal year, Sony's gaming division brought in revenue of 3.64 trillion yen, up 33% year-on-year. The business was Sony's biggest category by sales. Sony forecast operating profit for its gaming business to be 270 billion yen for the current fiscal year.
Upping price tags to $70, van Dreunen said, is “largely, I'd say, a move by platforms and publishers to capture more market value.” In other words, companies can charge $70 now because they know people will pay it.
Why console so cheap? ›Consoles are far more affordable than gaming PCs, often because manufacturers sell them at a loss and recoup that by taking a cut of individual game profits (though last year that started to change, with Sony announcing quite a significant price hike for the PS5).
Will PS5 be easier to get in 2023? ›Tracking down a PS5 has been quite challenging thus far, but Sony claims the console will be more readily available at retail in 2023. Isabelle Tomatis, Sony Interactive Entertainment's vice president of hardware and peripherals, explained on the PlayStation Blog that PS5s should be easier to purchase now.
Will PS5 be more available in 2023? ›After two years and change, Sony says the PS5 should be easier to find. If you or a loved one has been struggling to find a PlayStation 5 since its launch in 2020, Sony says the box should be easier to find in your store of choice in 2023.
How much will a PS5 cost in 2023? ›That will set you back $559.99 for the disc console, or $459.99 for the digital console.
Will there be a new PS5 in 2023? ›So in summary, we probably won't be getting a PS5 Pro or PS5 Slim in 2023, just a look-modified version whose biggest innovation will be the external disc drive.
Is it worth getting a PS5 if you have a PS4? ›Now more than ever, Sony's latest console is worth your investment and there has never been a better time to upgrade. Everything about the PS5 screams next-gen. From its outlandish but sleek design, comfortable DualSense controller, and stellar 4K graphics, the PS5 is a major upgrade over the PS4.
How many years will PS5 last? ›
How long does the PS5 last for? The life-cycle of the PlayStation 5 should last for “six to seven years,” according to Sony's Masayasu Ito, who was interviewed by Game Informer as part of a big feature about the first 25 years of the PlayStation brand.
Is PS5 scalping over? ›Sony Interactive Ent. Earlier this year Sony declared that the shortage of PlayStation 5 consoles is officially over and now, several months past that statement, the issue of consoles being scalped has also been declared over according to several outlets like Gaming Bible, Playstation Lifestyle and The Gamer.
Will PS5 be available in 2024? ›Insider Gaming sources have confirmed that the PS5 Pro is in development and could release with a tentative release date of late 2024. Insider Gaming previously reported that a new PlayStation 5 with a detachable disc drive is scheduled to release later this year.
Why is it still so hard to buy a PS5? ›The PS5 Shortage will likely last through 2023 so long as the semiconductor shortage and scalpers continue to impact supply and availability. It will still be quite some time before you can walk into your local electronics store and walk out with a PS5 unscathed.
Will they make a PS6? ›According to documents submitted to the U.K. Competition and Market Authority (CMA), Sony may not be planning to release the PS6 until after 2027. That would mean the PS5 would be around as the flagship PlayStation console for at least 7 years — or possibly longer.
Is it better to get PS5 digital or disc? ›The PS5 Digital Edition and the standard PS5 are identical apart from the missing disc drive, dimensions, and weight. There's no difference in performance or which games can be played, as both consoles use the same custom processor and even have the same 825GB SSD.
How much is the PS5 in 2024? ›Rythian on Twitter: "Pricing predictions in 2024; "New" PS5 - $299 PS VR2 - $449 PS5 Pro - $599" / Twitter.
Which console should I buy in 2023? ›- Nintendo Switch OLED.
- Xbox Series X.
- Sony PlayStation 5.
- Xbox Series S.
- Nintendo Switch Lite.
"PS5 is compatible with 8K displays at launch, and after a future system software update will be able to output resolutions up to 8K when content is available, with supported software."
Will PS5 Slim be cheaper? ›The PS5 Slim will undoubtedly be cheaper than the PS5's current $499 / £449 price tag, and the smaller profile will appeal to those who might think the PlayStation 5 is simply too big. But you'll likely be waiting quite a while.