As we wonder what the PS6 will bring to the table to carry the PlayStation brand’s legacy into the next generation of video games, some believe there’s value in looking back.
Shawn Layden, former CEO and President of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, has weighed in on the PS5 price, noting the platform is the only one in the company’s history ending its run more expensive than it began. While the global hardware crunch has certainly limited Sony’s options, Layden appeared on The Trophy Room podcast and outlined how he would approach the next generation of PlayStation. He’s all for sticking with the PS5 a little longer until the PS6 can retail at a lower price point.
“I think we have enough power in the machine. The innovation needs to come not from making PS6 for $1,200. It’s to make another PS5 for $300. Now, that would be true innovation. This is the first platform that I’ve seen that has gone up in price over time. I mean, PS2, at the end of the PS2 era, it was $99. You could buy a PS2 for $99.”
We’d have to agree with him here, considering how the PS5 and PS5 Pro now cost quite a pretty penny for anyone looking to break into Sony’s exclusive-focused gaming ecosystem. Of course, it is a pretty alluring option, while the PS6 is reportedly going full speed ahead, even as Sony looks to bring its own version of frame generation to the table. There’s certainly innovation aplenty going on, but we can’t help but wonder what a cheaper, entry-level take on the PS5 might look like, and whether it could eke out another year or two of life for the ageing console.
