Sony is walking into its next console era with an old problem and a new headache. The PS5 has now fallen slightly behind the PS4 at the same point in its life, while Sony president and CEO Hiroki Totoki says the company still has not locked in a launch date or price for the PlayStation 6.
That combination tells you plenty. The current machine is still selling, but not quite at the pace of the last one, and Sony is being forced to think about the next box while component costs, especially memory, remain messy. The company’s latest results also point to a flat income forecast because it is spending more on the next-generation platform.
PS5 sales are now slightly behind PS4
For the three months ended March 31, Sony sold 1.5 million PS5 consoles, taking lifetime sales to 93.7 million. In the equivalent PS4 quarter, Sony sold 2.6 million units, so the PS5 is now marginally behind its predecessor on a launch-aligned basis.
That gap is not dramatic, but it is awkward. The PS5 launched into shortages and then took a price hike of $100, while the PS4 enjoyed a cleaner run through the market. Hardware generations do not live in identical conditions, but investors still notice the scoreboard.
Sony is watching memory prices before it sets PS6 terms
Totoki said Sony has not decided when the PS6 will arrive or how much it will cost. He tied that uncertainty to the component picture, warning that rising memory prices can push up the bill of materials and manufacturing costs, which is hardly ideal for a console that has to ship at scale.
He also said Sony has already secured the materials it needs for the rest of calendar year 2026 and has ”to a certain extent agreed on the price itself.” Beyond that, though, the company is not ready to commit. That is consistent with a broader industry squeeze: AI demand has helped keep RAM supply tight, and console makers are having to plan further ahead than they used to.
Sony is thinking beyond the old console playbook
The interesting line from Totoki was not just about timing. He said Sony wants to explore ”various simulations”, including changing business models, to find the best strategy for the PS6. That leaves the door open to bundles, services, or other pricing tricks if the hardware bill gets ugly enough.
For now, Sony can point to one comforting metric: active users are still rising, so demand has not evaporated. That is probably why the company feels able to wait. Microsoft and Nintendo are playing their own long game too, and Sony appears to be betting that a better launch plan matters more than announcing a date early and regretting it later.
GTA 6 may do more for PS5 than Sony can
The next big lift for PS5 may not come from Sony at all. Analysts have already been debating how long the PS5 cycle can stretch, and one reason is obvious: blockbuster software still moves hardware. Grand Theft Auto 6 could give Sony a late-cycle sales boost this year, even with the console sitting at a higher price than before.
If that game lands on schedule, Sony gets a little more breathing room before it has to commit to the PS6. If it slips, the company’s next move gets harder, and the awkward gap between ”we are planning” and ”we have decided” will get a lot louder.