It has already been rumored that Sony is now developing the successor to the PlayStation 4 console. While the updated PS4 Pro hardware was released only two years ago, there is quite high expectation from the public that the PlayStation 5 will arrive sooner rather than later.
Sony has yet to confirm or deny that the PlayStation 5 is on the cards, but the recently reported dip in PlayStation 4 sales might be the signal to create a next-generation console.
Per the latest rumors, Sony might unveil the PlayStation 5 in 2020, at the earliest, as the PS4 is still doing good in the market. Also, the company is likely to take more time in developing a next-gen PlayStation console, considering that the PS4 Pro already has the all updated specs and features that a modern gaming platform can possibly have. Of course, things change, and the PS5's arrival might happen sooner, depending on the latest developments.
The Verge has reported that the PlayStation 4 sales may have already reached its peak. The number of sold hardware in 2017 has decreased with 19 million, which is lower than 20 million consoles sold in 2016. If the current projection remains true until the next year, the number of consoles sold in a year by March 2019 will only be around 16 million.
Still, the lowered PS4 sales is not a crippling issue for Sony, especially that the figures are only for the hardware. The company is in fact generating more money, registering a 17.8 percent increase in revenue with an opening profit of USD $1.62 billion.
Even if there are fewer PS4 consoles sold in 2017, Sony has sold more PS4 software and gained more PlayStation Plus service subscribers. Although, it is possible that Sony will take this news as a hint to start planning about the next-gen PlayStation 5 console.
Some people believe the PlayStation 5 is already overdue, knowing that Sony first introduced the PlayStation 4 console in 2013. Like Sony, Microsoft Xbox also take many years to launch its next-gen console. The public may have to wait another three to four years before the PS4 the light of day, but with the PlayStation 4 sales experiencing a dip, it is possible that Sony will develop the hardware sooner.
