Playstation The Official Playstation 5 Thread

[psylockolussus]

Sony Not Releasing New Games From Major Existing IPs Before March 2025 - PlayStation LifeStyle

Sony Interactive Entertainment has said that it will not be releasing PS5 exclusives from any major existing IPs before March 2025.

www.playstationlifestyle.net

PS5 Sales Cross Another Milestone But PlayStation Profits Are an Issue - PlayStation LifeStyle

Sony Group announced its financial results for Q3 2023 this morning, revealing that PS5 sales have reached nearly 55 million units worldwide.

www.playstationlifestyle.net

54.8 million copies sold (December 31, 2023)
Behind 2.3 million copies from the PS4 (time aligned basis)

Hmm they need more heavy hitters if they want to outsell the PS4. Cutting the price permanently would make wonders. I always had an impression that the PS5 had frontloaded sales due to stay-at-home protocols and the newness of the predecessor of the very successful PS4. But ultimately, the lack of big hitters + price are big factors. Horizon 2, Ragnarök and Spider-Man 2 aren't as groundbreaking as their predecessor. Games like Demon's Soul and Returnal have limited appeal imo. PSVR2 is a lost cause imo. I would be surprised if there's a PSVR3 eventually.

I didn't really think PS5 was going to outsell the PS4. Now if Sony plans to release the PS6 in 2026/2027, the PS5 would have a hard time crossing the 100 million mark. Like if PS6 comes out in 2027, it should be announced in 2026 and thats like 2 years from now...

 

[Mani-Man]

This all is a cardhouse waiting for fall apart.

How can 54 million sold Consoles not be considered good?
And only 2.3 million behind the PS4? And that while the PS5 had to deal with the various Covid problems and that many countries go through a economy crisis.

How greedy can this industry get? Is there no bottom?

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

People talk about Xbox changing strategies but the PS5 exclusives have been dire in totality.

Category:PlayStation 5-only games - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Some of these are VR only games.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

This all is a cardhouse waiting for fall apart.

How can 54 million sold Consoles not be considered good?
And only 2.3 million behind the PS4? And that while the PS5 had to deal with the various Covid problems and that many countries go through a economy crisis.

How greedy can this industry get? Is there no bottom?

When the Ps4 first released, it was selling more than the forecasts Sony made at the time. It's just about their goals & expectations and whether they're met or not.

 

[psylockolussus]

This all is a cardhouse waiting for fall apart.

How can 54 million sold Consoles not be considered good?
And only 2.3 million behind the PS4? And that while the PS5 had to deal with the various Covid problems and that many countries go through a economy crisis.

How greedy can this industry get? Is there no bottom?

It didn't match their sales target?

Also iirc, the article said they barely made any profit from console sales...so these PS5s should really sell a lot more. This is also why I'm surprised they decided to say that the Ps5 is on in itslast cycle... thats not gonna attract more people to get a PS5.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

It didn't match their sales target?

Also iirc, the article said they barely made any profit from console sales...so these PS5s should really sell a lot more. This is also why I'm surprised they decided to say that the Ps5 is on in itslast cycle... thats not gonna attract more people to get a PS5.

They never said that the Ps5 is on its last cycle. They said it's entering the latter half of the cycle.

 

[psylockolussus]

They never said that the Ps5 is on its last cycle. They said it's entering the latter half of the cycle.

Latter, last, it sounds the same to me.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Latter, last, it sounds the same to me.

so? just because they sound the same to you doesn't mean they are the same thing. they are completely different things.

anyway, with Ps5 sales in a steady decline, I really think a price cut has to be considered by Sony. especially if there is going to be a Ps5 pro this year.

 

[psylockolussus]

so? just because they sound the same to you doesn't mean they are the same thing. they are completely different things.

anyway, with Ps5 sales in a steady decline, I really think a price cut has to be considered by Sony. especially if there is going to be a Ps5 pro this year.

Okay what is the point of this of you pointing out those are different words... its very nitpicky.

Is there a neXt cycle after latter cycle aside from being phased out (which occurs when a new console is already released). When I said final cycle, I clearly meant it as the last few years of PS5, before the PS6 is announced/launched which obviously the latter cycle. And the statement from Sony was clearly suggesting the endgame for PS5 (before PS6 is announced/launched) is near. Hence why some comments online were pointing out this generation barely even started.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Okay what is the point of this of you pointing out those are different words... its very nitpicky.

I already told you why. They are different words with completely different meanings. You said Sony's statement was that Ps5 is on its last cycle, and that's just wrong.

Instead of dragging it out, you could just admit that you were wrong and move on.

Is there a neXt cycle after latter cycle aside from being phased out (which occurs when a new console is already released). When I said final cycle, I clearly meant it as the last few years of PS5, before the PS6 is announced/launched which obviously the latter cycle. And the statement from Sony was clearly suggesting the endgame for PS5 (before PS6 is announced/launched) is near. Hence why some comments online were pointing out this generation barely even started.

Sony definitely didn't mean "the last few years" of Ps5. They said latter HALF, which means the first half is over and now the second half is beginning. This implies there is at least 3-4 years left in the generation. If the first half is over and the second is beginning, that means it's the middle of the generation, not the end of it.

The last few years of the Ps4 before a successor were 2019 and 2020. According to your logic, Sony meant to say that the Ps6 will be announced/launched either this year, or next year in 2025. Do you really believe that is the case?

If yes, then the burden is on you to provide evidence that the public can expect the next console within the next few years. If no, then you should be able to see why I pointed out it's important to not conflate "latter" and "last" just because they sound the same.

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Sony plunged $10 billion after its PS5 sales cut. But a bigger issue is its near decade low games margin

Around $10 billion of value was wiped off Sony's stock this week after it cut its sales forecast for its flagship PlayStation 5 console for the fiscal year.

www.cnbc.com

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Sony plunged $10 billion after its PS5 sales cut. But a bigger issue is its near decade low games margin

Around $10 billion of value was wiped off Sony's stock this week after it cut its sales forecast for its flagship PlayStation 5 console for the fiscal year.

www.cnbc.com

Dang...digital sales at all time highs, yet margins are at decade-lows. As if it wasn't bad enough that they had to change their hardware sales forecasts.

This might make Xbox look and say that they might have a chance to come after PlayStation's spot once again.

But the article also goes to mention how the CEO of a Japanese video consulting company Serkan Toto believes hardware production costs have come down for the Ps5 after three years.

He seems like a credible source so if what he's saying is true...then they should just cut the price of the Ps5. It's been 3 years, it's about time for a price cut now.

 

[Gee]

Sony plunged $10 billion after its PS5 sales cut. But a bigger issue is its near decade low games margin

Around $10 billion of value was wiped off Sony's stock this week after it cut its sales forecast for its flagship PlayStation 5 console for the fiscal year.

www.cnbc.com

$300M production costs for Spidey 2... Time to increase games to $80 USD to recoup!

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

$300M production costs for Spidey 2... Time to increase games to $80 USD to recoup!

Apparently Spidey 2 was actually profitable for them though

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

Sony to release a 'Pro' version of the PlayStation 5 this year after cutting outlook, analysts say​

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/20/ps5-pro-sony-to-release-refreshed-playstation-5-in-2024-analysts-say.html

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Sony to release a 'Pro' version of the PlayStation 5 this year after cutting outlook, analysts say​

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/20/ps5-pro-sony-to-release-refreshed-playstation-5-in-2024-analysts-say.html

This is even more cause for them to cut the price of the current models. Because otherwise, the pro is going to be $600 and no one is gonna wanna pay that much for a video game console.

And on top of that, it's going to remind everyone of the price tag that the Ps3 first had when it was announced. Which in turn is going to but a bad taste in everyone's mouths too. It would be a disaster.

 

[Mjolnir Reborn]

This is even more cause for them to cut the price of the current models. Because otherwise, the pro is going to be $600 and no one is gonna wanna pay that much for a video game console.

And on top of that, it's going to remind everyone of the price tag that the Ps3 first had when it was announced. Which in turn is going to but a bad taste in everyone's mouths too. It would be a disaster.

I wouldn't mind a more expensive version above the standard edition, even from the start of the generation. The normal PS5 works great but since the performance headroom of a PC is much greater, but will at least 2-3 times more, I think a higher performance console could be an interesting bridge between the two. As for people's willingness to pay, given the prices scalpers managed to sell the PS5 for at launch I think there's a decent amount of people willing to spend more. I see the point in releasing pro models later though as you increase the chance of people double-dipping.

I don't like the way Xbox did it where they offered a cheaper, less powerful, alternative to the standard edition because that just holds everything back.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I wouldn't mind a more expensive version above the standard edition, even from the start of the generation. The normal PS5 works great but since the performance headroom of a PC is much greater, but will at least 2-3 times more, I think a higher performance console could be an interesting bridge between the two. As for people's willingness to pay, given the prices scalpers managed to sell the PS5 for at launch I think there's a decent amount of people willing to spend more. I see the point in releasing pro models later though as you increase the chance of people double-dipping.

I don't like the way Xbox did it where they offered a cheaper, less powerful, alternative to the standard edition because that just holds everything back.

there is a big difference between people buying Ps5s to flip them, and the actual retail price of the console. and because the Ps5 was such a hot commodity the first few years of this generation, I think most consumers know it.

but going off of the history of console sales, I think $600 would be too high even for a product meant to aimed at enthusiasts.

edit: to your point, while scalpers made millions, I don't think they made much of a dent in terms of consumers' perception of what a reasonable retail price should be i.e what they are actually willing to pay at a store for the console

I don't like the way Xbox did it where they offered a cheaper, less powerful, alternative to the standard edition because that just holds everything back.

this I definitely agree with though. Series S may be a current gen console, but because its specifications are significantly behind that of the Ps5/Series X, all multiplatform developers have to make sure that the games they make are suitable by Series S standards as the bare minimum which has probably really held the generation back so far.

dang, now it's making me wonder how much they have to hold back on GTA6.

 

[Mjolnir Reborn]

there is a big difference between people buying Ps5s to flip them, and the actual retail price of the console. and because the Ps5 was such a hot commodity the first few years of this generation, I think most consumers know it.

but going off of the history of console sales, I think $600 would be too high even for a product meant to aimed at enthusiasts.

edit: to your point, while scalpers made millions, I don't think they made much of a dent in terms of consumers' perception of what a reasonable retail price should be i.e what they are actually willing to pay at a store for the console

this I definitely agree with though. Series S may be a current gen console, but because its specifications are significantly behind that of the Ps5/Series X, all multiplatform developers have to make sure that the games they make are suitable by Series S standards as the bare minimum which has probably really held the generation back so far.

dang, now it's making me wonder how much they have to hold back on GTA6.

I'm not so sure there's a lack of people willing to spend more money than that given how well PC graphics cards have been selling, and many of those cost more than a PS5 on their own. The gaming computer industry sells plenty of computers that cost several times the price of a PS5, and while a computer is more versatile most won't use that costly power for anything but gaming. I agree that it certainly doesn't appeal to the entire console customer base, but that's why I'd be interested in seeing it as an alternative to the standard edition rather than as a replacement. As I said, I don't think it will happen since the double dip makes the current Pro thing work financially, but I can at least wish that they aimed a bit higher for consoles as well.

One can only hope that GTA6 is written in a way that it's easy to scale so it doesn't get too bad, but it would certainly be better if it was only on the PS5 and Series X. Now it's like still being stuck with cross gen development.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I'm not so sure there's a lack of people willing to spend more money than that given how well PC graphics cards have been selling, and many of those cost more than a PS5 on their own. The gaming computer industry sells plenty of computers that cost several times the price of a PS5, and while a computer is more versatile most won't use that costly power for anything but gaming. I agree that it certainly doesn't appeal to the entire console customer base, but that's why I'd be interested in seeing it as an alternative to the standard edition rather than as a replacement. As I said, I don't think it will happen since the double dip makes the current Pro thing work financially, but I can at least wish that they aimed a bit higher for consoles as well.

but there already is a huge disparity between those who game on consoles, and those who game on PC. sure there is a lot of crossover between the two markets as they are part of the same industry, but I think that is for the more hardcore - the audience you speak of who would be more willing to spend $600 on a Ps5 pro.

it's just my take on it. personally, I think that it is too much and it won't be good publicity for Sony either, having any type of video game hardware with a price tag like that. the best thing in my opinion is to cut the price of the standard model now to $400, and introduce the pro at $500. especially now with the dip in margins, stock prices, and sales forecasts.

One can only hope that GTA6 is written in a way that it's easy to scale so it doesn't get too bad, but it would certainly be better if it was only on the PS5 and Series X. Now it's like still being stuck with cross gen development.

yeah, exactly...now granted I believe that Series S is a step up from last gen, but from my understanding it is still a pretty big step back from Series X. maybe not a step in terms of what separates generations, but it's enough of a difference that affects developers

 

[psylockolussus]

These profits reports sound like PlayStation is in a bleak position.

I'm scratching my head how they are going to price the PS6. A $600 launch (U.S.) and $650 to $700 launch (internationally) is a big increase. Even the PS6 comes out in late 2027 or late 2028, that would still be a huge launch price from now.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

These profits reports sound like PlayStation is in a bleak position.

I'm scratching my head how they are going to price the PS6. A $600 launch (U.S.) and $650 to $700 launch (internationally) is a big increase. Even the PS6 comes out in late 2027 or late 2028, that would still be a huge launch price from now.

if they dare to price it even higher than $600, then it is going to be dead right on arrival

 

[Iceman]

but there already is a huge disparity between those who game on consoles, and those who game on PC. sure there is a lot of crossover between the two markets as they are part of the same industry, but I think that is for the more hardcore - the audience you speak of who would be more willing to spend $600 on a Ps5 pro.

it's just my take on it. personally, I think that it is too much and it won't be good publicity for Sony either, having any type of video game hardware with a price tag like that. the best thing in my opinion is to cut the price of the standard model now to $400, and introduce the pro at $500. especially now with the dip in margins, stock prices, and sales forecasts.

yeah, exactly...now granted I believe that Series S is a step up from last gen, but from my understanding it is still a pretty big step back from Series X. maybe not a step in terms of what separates generations, but it's enough of a difference that affects developers

I don’t know what Sony can afford right now, but I think they’d do very well with a $500 Pro and a $400 regular PS5 at this point. $600 feels like a big difference.

 

[Mjolnir Reborn]

but there already is a huge disparity between those who game on consoles, and those who game on PC. sure there is a lot of crossover between the two markets as they are part of the same industry, but I think that is for the more hardcore - the audience you speak of who would be more willing to spend $600 on a Ps5 pro.

it's just my take on it. personally, I think that it is too much and it won't be good publicity for Sony either, having any type of video game hardware with a price tag like that. the best thing in my opinion is to cut the price of the standard model now to $400, and introduce the pro at $500. especially now with the dip in margins, stock prices, and sales forecasts.

yeah, exactly...now granted I believe that Series S is a step up from last gen, but from my understanding it is still a pretty big step back from Series X. maybe not a step in terms of what separates generations, but it's enough of a difference that affects developers

Just to be clear, I'm not specifically talking about the PS5 Pro here but a hypothetical premium version that could allow consoles to be more like the times where they actually competed pretty well with PC at launch. The PS5 Pro is, based on the rumors, likely not going to be good enough to be what I talked about as while it's more powerful than the standard edition some years have passed since that launch and the bar for performance keeps going up, so I don't think that price can be all that high.

I got curious about prices (I bought my PS5 on launch and haven't really followed it since) so I went and looked up the PS5 Slim (disc version) recommended release price in Sweden and it was the equivalent of $600 plus 25% VAT so, without knowing the sales numbers, that reinforces my idea that such a price isn't chasing off all the customers.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I don’t know what Sony can afford right now, but I think they’d do very well with a $500 Pro and a $400 regular PS5 at this point. $600 feels like a big difference.

that's exactly what they did last generation, and it seemed to have worked out just fine for them. I think they said in 2017 that 1 in 5 Ps4s sold were the pros.

edit: yup, that's what it was!

PS4 Pro Represents Nearly One in Every Five PS4s Sold - IGN

Sony execs talk about the success of the PS4 Pro and what has led to the system's strong sales.

www.ign.com

Just to be clear, I'm not specifically talking about the PS5 Pro here but a hypothetical premium version that could allow consoles to be more like the times where they actually competed pretty well with PC at launch. The PS5 Pro is, based on the rumors, likely not going to be good enough to be what I talked about as while it's more powerful than the standard edition some years have passed since that launch and the bar for performance keeps going up, so I don't think that price can be all that high.

I got curious about prices (I bought my PS5 on launch and haven't really followed it since) so I went and looked up the PS5 Slim (disc version) recommended release price in Sweden and it was the equivalent of $600 plus 25% VAT so, without knowing the sales numbers, that reinforces my idea that such a price isn't chasing off all the customers.

oh I see. I don't know how long ago it was that the gap in performance between PCs and consoles not as significant. was it during the 7th generation, or earlier?

I remember when Ps4 & Xbone launched and a lot of people were calling them underpowered when coming from the Ps3 & 360, respectively. but people say that the Ps5/Series X consoles are the significant leap that console generations are supposed to be. but so far, I haven't seen any video game that blows me away visually. I feel like one could argue that these consoles haven't even tapped into their full potential which begs the question, why is a Ps5 pro even necessary, practically speaking?

I got curious about prices (I bought my PS5 on launch and haven't really followed it since) so I went and looked up the PS5 Slim (disc version) recommended release price in Sweden and it was the equivalent of $600 plus 25% VAT so, without knowing the sales numbers, that reinforces my idea that such a price isn't chasing off all the customers.

keep in mind though, last year Sony raised the price of the Ps5 by $30 in several other regions outside of the US. I also think the fact that Sony's sales forecast had to be slashed by 4 million units is also kind of a testament that it is chasing off customers on some level.