If you own a PS5, you may want to hang onto it. One analyst believes the PlayStation 6 could land later than many expect. Analysts are now predicting a record-long run for the PS5 because key components remain expensive and GTA 6 is poised to supercharge sales. Two factors, in particular, could push Sony toward delaying the PS6.
Some console generations simply refuse to fade away, and the current cycle is increasingly lining up as one of the longest on record. Even if plenty of people assume we’ll see a PlayStation 6 by the end of next year, market conditions are making a clean hardware transition far harder than it sounds. And while Sony remains quiet about the PS6, there are mounting reasons to think the next PlayStation arrives later than anticipated.
PS6 Could Arrive After 2028
In a recent report written in Japanese, David Gibson, a senior analyst at MST International, argues that the odds of PlayStation 6 launching after 2028 are extremely high. In his view, the current market context gives Sony plenty of incentive to hold the PS6 back. Gibson’s core point is that rising component costs, including RAM and semiconductors, would likely translate into a very steep price tag for the new system.
Building a PS6 that represents a genuine leap right now could force Sony to launch at a price many consumers would consider prohibitive, so the safer play is to keep monetizing the PS5 while production costs settle once demand for AI hardware cools off. On top of that, Sony could deliver stronger-than-expected financial results thanks to game sales and the continued strength of its gaming division.
Usage data also suggests PS5 activity is hitting record levels, which makes retaining and monetizing the current player base more attractive than pushing them into a new box next year. On February 5, Sony will update its sales numbers, and the company may show that PlayStation 5 is closing in on 90 million units sold, with the last reported figure sitting at 84.2 million PS5 consoles, and that’s before factoring in the Grand Theft Auto VI effect.
Gibson also highlights how useful it would be for Sony if Rockstar Games releases GTA 6 this year. A massive open-world release like that can function as a sales engine, potentially driving millions of additional PS5 units. From Sony’s perspective, a new console isn’t necessary to keep selling in big numbers across 2026 and 2027, because the current catalog and GTA 6 hype could be enough for PS5 to comfortably clear 100 million units in 2027. Even so, a one- or two-year slip for PS6 wouldn’t mean Sony is standing still. Mark Cerny reportedly has surprises planned for PS5 Pro, and the expectation is that PS6 brings meaningful technological advances.
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