September 8th 2024.
Is it time for PlayStation to hit the reset button? In a recent reader's feature, it was suggested that Sony should release the highly anticipated PlayStation 6 sooner rather than later in order to reassess their approach to gaming. And I have to say, I couldn't agree more.
Initially, I had planned to write about the popular games Astro Bot and Concord. But let's face it, everyone else was going to do the same. And really, what more can be said? Concord was a massive failure and Astro Bot was simply on par with its predecessors. These outcomes shouldn't have come as a surprise to anyone, yet somehow Sony seemed to be the most shocked of all.
It's unclear what Sony's next move will be, as admitting mistakes isn't exactly something executives are known for. However, there have been whispers of a possible PlayStation 6 release in the near future. While there haven't been any concrete details, I don't think we really need any rumors. Microsoft has already officially announced their next gen Xbox, which could mean it will be hitting the market within the next year or two. And with Xbox currently struggling, there's no way Sony will want to give them a chance to recover.
Of course, this is all assuming that Sony is logical and has some common sense, which may not always be the case. But if they're not completely crazy, they must already be well into planning the PlayStation 6 and it's likely to be released by at least 2026.
Personally, I'm not too concerned about the console itself. I assume any improvements in graphics will be minor. There's also the possibility of it being a portable hybrid, although I'm not sure how they would make it more powerful. Perhaps Microsoft's next move will give us some insight into how they plan to tackle this challenge.
Many people are saying that it's too soon for the PlayStation 6, and in theory, I agree. The first two years of this generation have essentially been a write-off due to the pandemic, making it ridiculous to release a new console now. Especially since there have been very few new first-party games in the past two years as well.
In my opinion, Sony has made a complete mess of this generation. They seem to be obsessed with live service games but have been unable to produce any successful ones. They had a goal of releasing 12 live service games by 2026, but Concord was the first and it only lasted two weeks.
One theory that I find believable is that Jim Ryan, the former CEO, ordered all first-party studios to focus on live service games. But now that he's been replaced, they may be going back to creating single-player games. I'm not sure how true this is, but it's clear that nothing is currently being produced and there are no scheduled releases for the future. Turning things around will take time.
Whatever games are released in the coming years, I doubt there will be more than one or two big name titles. Perhaps Wolverine and something else. The whole process of announcing and anticipating new games has been completely broken. It's time for a reset.
This generation has been a disaster for PlayStation and they need to start over. Releasing the PlayStation 6 as soon as possible seems like the obvious solution. A strong launch lineup followed by a steady stream of new games is exactly what we've been lacking in recent years.
It doesn't matter what the PlayStation 6 is or what it does, it just needs to be an opportunity to start fresh and do things better. Ideally, Sony would also end their damaging obsession with PC games. After all, the appeal of a console diminishes when the same games are available on other platforms. Just take a look at Xbox.
Assuming Sony has higher aspirations than just being a PC game publisher, I strongly urge them to release the PlayStation 6 as soon as possible and get back to their roots as a proper console manufacturer and video game maker. It's time for a change.
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