PlayStation gamers could be waiting longer for the PS5 release date if this latest prediction regarding Sony’s next-gen plans is proven true.
Many analysts have backed the tech giant to launch their PS4 successor console next year, with a possible announcement being planned for 2019.
And with reports that Microsoft is planning to reveal their new Xbox console during E3 2019, it would make sense that Sony PlayStation wouldn’t want to get left behind.
Even with the mid-generation release of the PS4 Pro, it appears the time is ripe for Sony to prime the PlayStation 5.
However, as Sony has yet to make any kind of announcement regarding their future plans, it’s still open to speculation.
A recent prediction has been made that claims Sony could wait an extra year before releasing the PS5.
Yasuo Imanaka of the Rakuten Securities Economic Research Institute believes we could be waiting until 2021 for the PlayStation 5.
The Daily Star reports that Imanaka backs Sony to launch the PS5 in the fiscal year beginning April 2021, ending on March 2022.
This is based on Sony’s latest financial results and would run against the current standard prediction of 2020.
Here’s more from the Rakuten report, translated from Google: “About my release date for the PS5, I think that there is no possibility of this happening in the fiscal year ending March 2020.
“In the fiscal year ending March 2021, there is a possibility, but it seems not to be conclusive.
“The possibility will be higher after the fiscal year ended March 2022. So the shortest time will be released in the fiscal year ending March 2021.
“The release date of PS5 affects not only the game & network service but also the performance of Sony as a whole.”
Some industry experts also expect the PlayStation 5 to include and expand on a current feature available on the PS4.
Cloud gaming could become a massive part of the industry in the coming years, and some believe that the PS5 and next Xbox will take advantage of improving technology.
And while this style of gaming will remain largely out of the hands of those with band internet speeds, it could open the door to some price changes.
In an interview with Gamingbolt, Gaijin Entertainment CEO Anton Yudintsev said that cloud gaming could make next-gen consoles cheaper and more powerful.
“I’m almost sure that cloud gaming will be available in the new generation of consoles,” Yudintsev said.
“In that case, we should see cheaper consoles, which will open the world of console gaming for more players, and that’s great for both gamers and game developers.
“Developers can be adding more hi-tech graphics features to their games as cloud gaming will make it available for a wider audience….
“Retail part of game distribution is already weak, which brings some challenge to platform holders in the next generation – retail stores were not only getting their margin, but also provided visibility for games and consoles.”
Cloud gaming is of course already being used by many companies right now and is still very much in its infancy.
So the idea that tech like this could help bring down the price of the first PS5 consoles seems unlikely.
Sony could try and expand their PlayStation Now features on the PS5 and even drop things like a disc drive to bring down costs.
But it seems more likely that the next generation of consoles will try to offer competitive price points, much like those seen with the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, through more traditional means.