PlayStation 6 Release Date Delay Is Exactly What We Wanted

It could be half a decade before we see the PlayStation 6, but that's alright with me. The future of console gaming has become somewhat uncertain in recent days: while some are anticipating a PS6 to be released within the next three years, others say that tariffs and RAM shortages could lead to price increases and delayed consoles over the next few years.

The latter camp appeared to be somewhat vindicated last week, when MST Financial analyst David Gibson wrote in Sandstone Insight Japan (spotted and translated by TweakTown) that "Sony expects the PS5's lifecycle to be extended, and the PS6's release is likely to be delayed longer than expected." But honestly, that might be the best thing that could happen to the industry right now.

The PlayStation 6 Being Delayed Is Great, Here's Why

The PS5 Is Still Going Strong

It's only natural to get excited about new console releases: they almost always come along with better specs, new games, and, in time, generational leaps forward for the video game medium. But if we're being honest, we really don't need a PlayStation 6 any time soon.

The PlayStation 5 is clearly doing just fine, according to Gibson: "Sony's third-quarter results are expected to beat market expectations, driven by sales of both in-house and third-party games." This news comes despite a recent, abrupt price increase for the PS5 in the middle of its lifecycle, and rumors of a potential second increase before the end of the year.

Many analysts have sounded alarm bells about potential price increases for gaming and personal computing hardware, as several major parts producers have recently signed exclusivity deals with various AI companies, or are otherwise shifting the majority of their manufacturing from consumer parts to AI data center components.

As game prices grow ever more expensive, the worst thing Sony could ask consumers to do is drop hundreds of dollars on another console. The pressure may be on to release a PS6 in the near future, since the PS4's lifecycle was only seven years long, and the PS5 is currently coming up on its fifth.

But I'm not eager to upgrade until the next console generation promises something truly different from the current one: not slightly better visuals, not cross-generational game releases, which are still a fixture even five years into the PS5's lifecycle. The world will be ready for a PlayStation 6 when it can offer a

Let's Not Count The PS5 Out Yet

Current-Gen Consoles Are Still Performing Great

Besides that, though, there's the simple fact that PS5 consles are still doing just fine. My launch edition PS5 is still chugging along as well as it ever has, and I wasn't even tempted to upgrade to the PS5 Pro.

Most games are able to run perfectly on current gen consoles. Even Grand Theft Auto 6, one of the most anticipated video game releases of the decade, will be a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S exclusive at launch, with a PC release likely TBA later.

My point is, unless a hypothetical PS6 can offer specs excellent enough to run games the PS5 couldn't even dream of, there's really no point in rushing to release a new console now. And given it's only been six years since the PS5 came out and console component prices are expected to spike in the near future, that seems unlikely, to say the least.

So, while it may be disappointing to hear that the next PlayStation console is still far off, that might be the best thing for current PlayStation 5 owners. There's no need to rush the next generation when the current one's still going strong; if Sony waits until the right hardware is available, and the industry at large is ready for a PlayStation 6, the end result will be better for it.