Sony Says the PS5 Era Will Begin Winding Down

The PlayStation 5 is the most popular console of this generation. With top-tier exclusives and a huge player base in major countries like the United States and Japan, it’s hard to see the PS5 as anything but a success. It certainly has been, but the decline in PS5 sales seems to be coming sooner than Sony expected. In recent comments, Sony shared that it actually envisions the end of its life cycle coming sooner than some might believe. Here’s what we know following Sony’s surprising comments.

Per Bloomberg, Sony is envisioning that the PS5 will start to end its life cycle within the next few years. “Looking ahead, PS5 will enter the latter stage of its life cycle,” Sony senior vice president Naomi Matsuoka told investors. “As such, we will put more emphasis on the balance between profitability and sales. For this reason, we expect the annual sales pace of PS5 hardware will start falling from the next fiscal year.”

This comes after sales slowed quicker than expected, likely the symptom of a slower output of PS5 exclusives than some might have anticipated. On that note, Matsuoka mentioned that Sony will see a bit of a dry spell in terms of first-party releases between now and next year. Players should not expect “any new major existing franchise titles” from Sony through March 31, 2025, the end of the next fiscal year for the company.

It’s hard not to be disappointed if you’re a PlayStation fan that things might be dwindling, but there are a few harsh realities that will impact gaming’s future that we’re seeing play out. Blockbuster titles take more time than ever before to develop. A single major release can take a decade to make, meaning we might not see the treasure trove of exclusives in each console cycle that we’re used to. That said, PlayStation fans can still look forward to Death Stranding 2 coming in 2025.

What do you think about the recent comments from Sony? We especially want to hear from PS5 owners. Are you disappointed in what seems to be the winding down of the PlayStation 5? Let us know in the comments.