Happy birthday to the PlayStation 5

You used to have the ability to depend the variety of years between sport consoles on one hand.

The unique Sony PlayStation got here out within the UK in September 1995. 5 years later, the PS2 was launched and introduced with it important modifications.

It was an identical story for different consoles however, of late, issues appear to have slowed down – which could clarify why, because the PS5 hits its fifth anniversary, a possible PS6 is nowhere in sight.

In response to PlayStation’s enterprise boss, Eric Lempel, that is as a result of there’s loads of life within the outdated canine but.

“I might say we’re actually hitting our stride now,” he advised BBC Information.

Given there stays “numerous nice content material” the corporate is “simply going to proceed with PS5” he defined.

Mr Lempel oversaw the launch of the console, which was suffering from provide chain points upon its launch because of a worldwide chip scarcity.

The availability issues had been resolved after three years, and the console has gone on to promote greater than 84 million items worldwide.

And, because it turns 5, he mentioned the title which might change into the PS5’s largest vendor hadn’t even been launched but.

“I am not gonna inform you which one, however I feel it is nonetheless to come back,” he mentioned.

There are many high-profile video games within the works.

Marvel’s Wolverine, made by the identical crew behind the profitable Spider-Man collection, is about for a 2026 launch – whereas Intergalactic, the upcoming sport from Uncharted and The Final of Us developer Naughty Canine, is in improvement.

Business skilled Christopher Dring mentioned Naughty Canine’s schedule went some option to clarify why consoles had been lasting longer – as a result of it takes extra time to make video games for them than it used to.

“Through the PS3 technology, Naughty Canine launched 4 video games,” he mentioned.

“Through the PS4 technology, that dropped to 3 video games – to date throughout the PS5 technology, it isn’t launched one.

“Video games are taking a lot longer to make that, in some circumstances, their improvement schedules are longer than it takes new {hardware} to come back out.”

And he mentioned this story was repeated “throughout the business”, with Grand Theft Auto 6 – which will probably be on each PlayStation and Xbox – recently delayed to November 2026.

But when the large hitters are coming extra slowly, Mr Dring mentioned, one other issue may also clarify the longevity of a console just like the PS5 – avid gamers are extra prepared to attempt new issues.

“We’re seeing on common persons are enjoying 50% extra video games than they did final technology, they usually’re actually branching out to several types of video games,” he mentioned.

“They’re going to play the hits, however they’re going to additionally play smaller video games or distinctive video games that they’ve by no means heard of earlier than.”

One of many causes the agency might not rush to unveil new {hardware} is the PS5 stays forward of its rivals, outselling Microsoft’s Sequence X and S consoles – no less than within the residence console house.

The identical cannot be mentioned in relation to handhelds although.

The Nintendo Change – a handheld console which connects to a TV to play video games on an enormous display screen – is the third-best promoting console in historical past.

Its sequel the Change 2, which launched in June 2025, has already bought 10 million items in its first few months.

It is not a combat PlayStation is giving up although.

“We’re all the time about new innovation within the class,” Mr Lempel mentioned.

The success of Nintendo’s {hardware} maybe impressed Sony to launch the PlayStation Portal, an adjunct which helps you to stream from a PS5 you already personal.

Mr Lempel mentioned Portal was “performing very well” and although he didn’t reveal actual gross sales figures, he mentioned it had “exceeded our expectations”.

“It has been a really profitable product for us,” he mentioned.

Mr Dring mentioned he believed there was one other distinction in the way in which video games had been being launched now which could contribute to the size of time between {hardware} releases.

“A number of the largest video games as we speak are nonetheless playable on PS4, and for the primary three years it was comparatively uncommon to see any PS5-only releases,” he mentioned.

“The video games dominating probably the most performed charts are titles like Fortnite, Roblox and Name of Responsibility: Warzone… video games which might be, in some circumstances, over 10 years outdated and are playable on a lot older units.

“So it may be we’re going to get a brand new console in 2027 – however the chances are a lot of the video games that will probably be launching alongside that machine will probably be absolutely playable on present {hardware}, too.”