Some titles are enough to keep a console alive. After a run of twelve incredible years filled with unforgettable games and entertainment, the PlayStation 4 is slowly approaching the end of its lifecycle—but not quite yet.

Earlier today, it was reported that Sony has officially stopped shipping PS4 consoles in Japan. For many, this marked the symbolic end of an era. However, there’s a strong belief among the gaming community that the PS4 still has some gas left in the tank—thanks to one major factor.

Fortnite Alone Can Prolong the PS4’s Life by Years

That reason is none other than Fortnite. More broadly speaking, it’s the entire category of free-to-play games, but Fortnite sits comfortably at the forefront of this movement.

In previous console generations, once game developers stopped creating new titles, the hardware quickly faded into obscurity. But the massive install base of the PS4, combined with ongoing support from live-service games, changes the game entirely.

There are countless players whose sole reason for owning a PS4 is to play Fortnite with friends, and they feel no urge to upgrade to newer hardware. As long as companies like Epic Games continue to support the system, the PS4 isn’t going anywhere.

This sentiment has been echoed on Reddit, where users discussed the question: “When do you think PS4’s end-of-life will really hit? Last game released?”

One user, Zeroone199, chimed in: “The day Fortnite stops supporting PS4—that’s the real sign the console is dead.”

Another gamer added: “I bet games like Fortnite and Warzone will still get updates on PS4 for quite a while.”

At the end of the day, the true end will come when Sony shuts off online servers. But as long as those servers are making money, they’ll likely remain active for years.

As Reddit user gszilagyi pointed out: “Fortnite is still supported on the Nintendo Switch, which is way less powerful. So relax—PS4 will get Fortnite updates for the next decade, no doubt.”

Even if Sony gradually phases out official support for the PS4 over the next year or so, developers can still publish games for the console. So don’t pack it away just yet—it’s not done serving you.

Source: GamingBible