PS5 Release Date PlayStation 5 Sony 1

PlayStation 5’s release date is a mystery at the time of typing, but we now at least know that a next-gen console is coming. Speaking as part of an interview in the aftermath of E3 2017, Sony bigwig Shawn Layden admitted that the platform holder has new hardware in the pipeline, but added that “it will probably be some time”.

There’s no immediate rush for the PlayStation 4 to be replaced, of course: some would argue that the system, with its outrageous roster of 2017 releases, is only just beginning to hit its stride. But designing new consoles is a tough task, so you can be certain that work is already underway – the PS4 project began internally in 2008, after all.

But the question is: what will the PS5’s release date be? It’s impossible for us to pin down exact days, of course, but we can certainly speculate about the year – especially if we assume it will drop during the holiday period like most of Sony’s major gaming hardware launches. 2019? 2020? Perhaps it could even launch as soon as next year?

Michael Pachter, a divisive analyst with his finger in a lot of pies, believes the box will deploy in 2019. To be fair, there’s method in his theory: Sony waited until three years into the current generation to revise its entire product line with the PS4 Pro, PS4 Slim, and PlayStation VR – it certainly makes sense that it would wait three more to introduce a new machine. That would peg it at 2019.

But could it come earlier? Looking at the software slate, it seems unlikely. Games like Death Stranding and The Last of Us: Part II are unlikely to hit until 2019 at the earliest, and while they could certainly change platform, Sony’s generally pretty good at delivering software for the hardware it's been announced for – well, The Last Guardian aside.

Also, is the industry ready for a full, next-gen step as soon as 2018? No doubt there are a handful of consumers who are prepared to make the leap, but 4K adoption is still relatively low – PS4 Pro covers that base for the time being – and developers are only just fully getting to grips with the hardware we’ve got. Moreover, is the tech available to provide a noticeable leap over what's currently available?

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With the Xbox One X barely breaking even at $500 this Christmas, it seems unlikely that Sony could cobble together a really meaningful upgrade a year later and hit that mass market price of $399 that it likes. We’re no Digital Foundry, but we suspect it may wait around until better components are available for more affordable prices – like the oft-requested Ryzen CPUs, for example.

So, 2019 seems like the year, then. Potentially, but we think software reveals are going to be the biggest tell-tale sign. Horizon: Zero Dawn is a good example. We know there’s certainly going to be a sequel, but what platform will it be for? Common sense suggests the PS4 – but if the PS5’s coming any sooner than 2020, then Guerrilla Games is probably already being briefed on next-gen.

It’s going to be fascinating to see what kind of first-party PS4 announcements we get over the next 18 months. Sony will have plenty in the pipeline for its flagship format, make no mistake – but will Sony Santa Monica continue to work on the PS4 post-God of War? At some point, priorities are going to change – and that should give us the biggest hint regarding the PS5's release date.

When do you think the PS5’s release date will be? Are you even ready for a new generation of consoles, or are you more than satisfied with what you’ve got? Speculate with us in the comments section below.

What year will the PS5 release in? (133 votes)

  1. 20181%
  2. 201932%
  3. 202055%
  4. 20218%
  5. 2022 or later5%

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