PlayStation 5 News: Bad news for PS5 release date? Sony and Xbox Two set for 2019 DELAY? (Pic: Daily Star)
Sony's PlayStation 4 console has had one hell of a console cycle and in 2018 the strength of that console market has only improved.
Recent figures show that Sony PlayStation has now sold over 88 million consoles during its lifetime and that means that it's surpassed two significant milestones.
It means the PS4 has now sold more than both the PS3 and Xbox 360, however, it's still slightly short of the 101 million Nintendo Wii's sold previously.
But these sales don't seem to be slowing down and with at least 4 more sizable PlayStation 4 exclusives on the horizon, it would seem unlikely that Sony will be in any rush to move on from the PS4 anytime soon.
That could mean we don't even see or hear anything about the PS5 in 2019, especially if you believe some well-informed individuals in the industry.
One such man worth following, is Christopher Dring, Publisher of GamesIndustry.biz who this week set out his expectations for 2019.
And in some follow-up messages, one thing became clear, the need for Sony to reveal a PS5 is wholly counter-productive.
"Why harm the PS4 business prematurely?" explained Dring "If its not out before the end of 2019 (which it isnt), its potentially damaging to reveal a new platform before the last major Christmas sales period for PS4"
"It doesnt kill it. But it does potentially impact sales. And with 6 or 7 first party games on PS4 still to talk about, it doesnt seem a great use of their marketing efforts. Just keep driving that PS4 install base"
Dring also made another excellent point relating to when Sony has typically announced and released their past two consoles as well as when he expects to see it eventually launch (2020).
"Sonys last two entirely new consoles were announced in January and launched in November."
"I know its being worked on. I know when its due. And so Id expect Sony to focus 100% on PS4 this year, and make 2020 the year of PS5. Announce early 2020, show it off at E3 in all its glory, release at Christmas"
The only question is how Sony will, therefore, approach the year ahead. Especially since one of Sony's many bosses disclosed earlier this year that the PS4 is in its "sunset years".
Sony admitted the world's biggest-selling console is coming to the end of its life in a chat with investors in Japan, with PlayStation CEO John Kodera saying the PS4 “is entering the final phase of its life cycle."
Coupled with PlayStation's admission that they are "skipping" E3 2019 would suggest that the company might have something else planned.
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PS5 Release Date – Why 2020?
Generally speaking, 2020 appears to be the accepted date that most industry experts and analysts believe Sony will launch a new console. As shown by Dring's comments above.
In addition, the one source and prediction that we're inclined to believe the most comes from Digital Foundry.
The sister site of Eurogamer is well known for its deep dives into the performance of games to see exactly how well they are running on a console and they are, to our mind, some of the best technical experts when it comes to console gaming.
So when they write a story titled 'PlayStation 5: when can Sony truly deliver a generational leap in power?' you take notice.
For those who don't want to read right now, the overriding opinion of the story seemed to suggest that it would be madness to assume Sony would release a new console anywhere before Q4 2019, but that a 2020 launch would prove most likely.
It's also based on much more than just business numbers, but either way the idea of a 2020 PS5 release date is certainly gaining more weight.
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