Former PlayStation boss gives best hint yet for PS6 release date
Shuhei Yoshida is already marking the date in his diary
Like the changing of the tide, we know a new PlayStation console will eventually be on the way. While we're not sure anything will ever top the record-breaking highs of the PlayStation 2, Sony has made good headway in chipping away at the competition with the PS5.
The latest member of the ever-growing family even managed to dethrone the Nintendo Switch to become the best-selling gaming console in 2023 and 2024. While Nintendo is likely to regain its place at the top of the pile when the Switch 2 releases later this year, the gaming giants are already looking at what comes next.
Unfortunately, like when years of rumors about a supposed Switch Pro eventually rolled over into the Switch 2, we're often left with little more than scraps and leaks until we get the official nod from up high.
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Given that the PS5 Pro was only released in November 2024, we don't imagine Sony will be putting its current lineup of consoles out to pasture anytime soon. After all, the PS4 is still being produced in some markets in 2025 despite being discontinued in Japan.
You might think it's a bit early to be get hyped about a potential PlayStation 6 release, but according to former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida, there's a key date we should all be keeping an eye on.
Speaking to GamesBeat, Yoshida discussed all things PlayStation and gave his thoughts on when we could be booting up a successor to the PS5. When grilled on the increasing lifespan of console generations, Yoshida mused: "Right, it’s getting longer. The last cycle was seven years. If it’s seven years, we’ll see a new one in 2027."
Claiming he has no information on the PS6, Yoshida added: "It feels a bit too early for me to say."
If he were a betting man, he would pencil in 2028 and explained: “The PS5 generation was slowed down because of manufacturing issues. If the next PlayStation comes out in 2028, that feels right to me."
Even though it sometimes feels like the console wars have died down thanks to more Xbox games than ever appearing on PlayStation, Yoshida refers to Microsoft's '2028 plan' that was leaked during the Federal Trade Commission trial before the green team purchased Activision Blizzard King. Like when the PS5 and Xbox Series released around the same time, the rivals could be targeting the same release window for their next generation of consoles.
Despite 2028 feeling like it's an age away, things are on simmer when it comes to the PS6. Recent rumors divided gaming fans when it was suggested that the PS6 could follow the Xbox Series X/S launch with a more budget-friendly console and a beefier one. Following the PS5 Pro's $699 price tag, a $799 launch for the 'main' PS6 doesn't sound too ridiculous. At least we've got plenty of time to save if Yoshida is right and 2028 is on the money.