An interesting comment from Sony exec Lin Tao has PlayStation fans weighing up the potential of an expanded lifecycle for the PS5.
As we all know by now, Sony's plans for the PS5 were significantly impacted by the pandemic, which disrupted production and effectively stalled the opening years of this console generation.
With that in mind, there's always been talk of the platform holder attempting to elongate the system's time on the market — but recent reports and rumours have suggested that the PS5's successor is targeting a release as early as 2027.
That would give the PS5 a seven-year primary lifecycle, or thereabouts, which is pretty much in line with the PS4.
However, speaking during the company's latest financial briefing, Sony CFO Lin Tao hints towards a continued focus on the current-gen console.
"There are many active users enjoying the console, so from that perspective, we believe that the PS5 is only in the middle of the journey, and we are really planning to expand it even further," she explains (as reported by Destin Legarie).
So, is Tao saying that the plan is to give the PS5 more time in the spotlight than its predecessors? We're not entirely sure. If we take her quote at face value, then the PS5 is going to be front and centre for another five years.
But this could also just be Tao saying that Sony plans to support the PS5 until 2030 or so. By then, the PS6 could be here and the PS5 would take on a secondary role, much like the PS4 has throughout this generation.
Still, it'll be fascinating to see how the company approaches the next three or four years. As alluded, there are plenty of PlayStation fans who feel as though the PS5 hasn't really got going — especially in terms of must-buy, generation-defining exclusives.
How to do you interpret Tao's comments? Look towards the future in the comments section below.