Questions about how PlayStation plans to go about its next console generation have been on a lot of gamers’ minds recently, especially after Sony shocked many by increasing the PS5’s prices again. The future of Xbox has also been a huge topic of conversation. With Phil Spencer and his expected successor, Sarah Bond, out of the picture, new CEO Asha Sharma could be leading Xbox in a new direction. It’s already confirmed that the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix are being worked on, but it’s unclear just how far along these next-gen consoles are and whether they will get delayed or not.
Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S faced significant supply chain issues with the COVID-19 pandemic. What was supposed to be the new and thrilling generation of gaming turned out to be a two-year struggle for both the companies and gamers, as the shortage issues got the generation off to a snail’s pace start. By 2023, the supply chain issues had mostly been resolved, causing the two consoles to not hit their full stride until years after launch. Now that PS6 rumors and Xbox Project Helix speculation are circulating, a lot of gamers feel like it’s too soon for a new generation to debut. However, both Sony and Microsoft have short timeframes to capitalize on before the new generation feels outdated.
PlayStation Insider Estimates How Much It’ll Cost Sony to Manufacture a PS6
An insider shares their estimated guess of how much it could cost Sony to produce a next-generation PlayStation console.
The PS6 and Xbox Project Helix Have to Act Sooner, Rather Than Later, in Order to Make the Most Out of Their Next-Gen Products
One place that has been talking a lot about the logistics of the next-gen wave has been Reddit. Leaks from YouTube channel Moore’s Law is Dead are igniting some interesting conversations about Sony’s future plans, and a comment from Reddit user XJ–0461 really stuck out to me. The leaks from Moore’s Law is Dead claim that the PS6 is “not many years away,” and XJ–0461 made a solid point about such a bold claim:
Despite global trends, the PS6 can’t be delayed too long from the original plan because they have a window of how strong the tech is where they want to release. If they wait too long, it will launch too far behind current tech.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
This is a solid point that really gets to the main reason why Moore’s Law is Dead’s leaks are probably not too far off from being accurate. Of course, every single leak and rumor should be met with a healthy amount of skepticism, but the tech that Sony and Microsoft are both working on for their next-gen console is only going to be impressive for so long. The general expectation is that the next-gen console will come out in 2027 or early 2028. This is purely speculation, but it makes sense when looking back at the time between past consoles.
|
PlayStation Release Gap |
Xbox Release Gap |
|
PS1 – 1995 |
N/A |
|
PS2 – 2000 |
Xbox – 2001 |
|
PS3 – 2006 |
Xbox 360 – 2005 |
|
PS4 – 2013 |
Xbox One – 2013 |
|
PS5 – 2020 |
Xbox Series X/S – 2020 |
Since Sony and Microsoft are direct competitors, they have continued to release consoles within at least a year of each other. 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 be eyeing a same-year launch. If both companies are following past trends, then that would make 2027 the ideal target year. Moore’s Law is Dead’s leaks were specifically about the PS6 and how Sony’s work on Power Save Mode is “a Trojan Horse” for a handheld PS6. That doesn’t mean these leaks aren’t just as important to Xbox fans, though. According to Moore’s Law is Dead’s source, Sony’s PlayGo is a direct answer to the Xbox Smart Delivery system. The source even claimed that this is further proof of Sony being deep in the PS6’s development:
It allows for devs to organize ‘chunks’ of differing assets and textures for each PlayStation console so that a given console only downloads the exact files it will use… This would only be done if this ‘mode’ was going to be the entire basis of a new console that might need its own tweaks.
The Next Generation’s Price Point is the Biggest Question Gamers Want Answered
It’s no secret that the tech industry as a whole is currently facing some serious woes. Because of the RAM shortage and general economic challenges going on right now, companies like Sony and Microsoft are hiking prices. Xbox Game Pass prices were increased last year, and this month saw the PS5 get another price hike. It wasn’t a minor change, either, as the three models saw price increases that ranged between $100 and $150. There have been understandable concerns about how the combination of RAM shortage and rising production costs could either delay the new generation or introduce consoles that are far too expensive for the average gamer.
On the bright side, Moore’s Law is Dead’s source also claimed that Sony is aiming for a console that is cheaper to produce, which would cut down the price. Analysts have been predicting next-gen console prices, with Pachter Factor podcast host Michael Pachter even predicting that high price points could end console gaming as we know it. Between Moore’s Law is Dead’s source’s more optimistic outlook and other analysts predicting $1000 or higher consoles, there’s no way to really know what Sony and Microsoft are going to do.
Next-Gen May Feel Like It’s Coming Too Soon, But Sony and Microsoft Probably Disagree
Reports that the next-gen Xbox can play PC games and the PS6 could potentially be twice as powerful as both its predecessor and Xbox Series X/S are intriguing possibilities, and Sony and Microsoft will want to debut their tech advances as soon as possible. Waiting too long means that the two companies risk launching products that simply don’t seem as impressive anymore.
The current generation has faced some rocky moments, and the PS6 and Xbox Project Helix can hopefully sidestep the same fate. Right now, these next-gen console release dates are being kept hidden in the shadows. Only time will tell what Sony and Microsoft decide to do, but it’s going to be on whatever timeline they think is best.
