Even though the PS5 is currently thriving for Sony, their research and development teams are already focusing on what’s next. In a recent business segment meeting, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Hideaki Nishino, discussed the future of PlayStation. As reported by VGC, Nishino also touched upon the possibility of cloud gaming as a potential direction for Sony’s console lineup in the future.
As stated by Nishino, although cloud streaming holds great potential, particularly in terms of the technology used, the issue of network reliability remains a challenge for the company. Moreover, cloud streaming appears to be a pricier option for Sony in terms of “cost per playtime”.
Nishino stated that the advancement of cloud streaming from a technical aspect is evident through our products, however, maintaining overall network stability isn’t within our power. Additionally, the increased cost per gaming session compared to the conventional console method continues to pose a difficulty for us.
Cloud gaming offers another way for gamers to access content, yet it seems most players still prefer playing games locally, not depending on network conditions. This notion is supported by the success of the PS5 and PS5 Pro.
Nishino further pointed out that while it’s crucial to focus on the future, Sony is also thriving with its existing and older consoles. In particular, he highlighted that an impressive 124 million users are still engaged in playing games on their PS4 systems, suggesting they haven’t felt compelled to upgrade to a PS5 just yet.
In simpler terms, Nishino stated that we have a significant community of dedicated gamers spanning both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 eras. Given this, there’s immense curiosity about our plans for the next-generation console. At the moment, we can’t disclose more information, but rest assured, we are actively considering innovative methods to improve how players interact with our games and services in the future.
Lynn Azar, Senior Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development at Sony Interactive Entertainment, mirrored Nishino’s thoughts on catering to gamers using multiple console types when questioned about the possible commercial effects of the upcoming versions of PlayStation consoles.
Nishino-san has shared that we’re still figuring out what the future of our platform might be. Consequently, I regret that I can’t give more information about our projected operating income for future years. However, it’s important to stress that our business financial structure has adapted according to our strategic plans.
Azar noted that currently, a significant portion of the company’s income is derived from continuous sources such as in-game purchases and subscription plans.
I’m thrilled to share that we’ve broken free from the usual cycles by creating a vast network of partners spanning both PS5 and PS4 generations. This diverse ecosystem brings in recurring income consistently,” I shared. “As a result, we’ve achieved a high and steady spend on content and services. Interestingly, these now account for more than two-thirds of our total revenue, offering a reliable, predictable, and profitable foundation for our earnings.
Although Sony hasn’t officially disclosed their plans for a next-generation console yet, a statement made in 2022 hinted that they might be aiming to launch the PlayStation 6 sometime after 2027.
Read More
2025-06-13 16:41