Sony recently announced that the PlayStation 4 (PS4) remains a significant part of their business strategy. This revelation came during a business segment meeting where SIE’s new co-CEOs shared updates on the PlayStation brand’s performance and future plans.
PS4 Retains Strong User Base
Hideaki Nishino, who is set to become the CEO of SIE’s Platform Business Group, highlighted the PS4’s continued relevance. He stated that the PS4 accounts for 50% of Sony’s monthly active console users, totaling 49 million. Nishino emphasized the importance of the PS4, despite the growing success of the PlayStation 5 (PS5). He noted, “While the PlayStation 4 is still an important part of our business, our PlayStation 5 players are even more engaged than in our previous generation, and we expect these trends to continue.”
PlayStation 5 Performance
The PS5 has nearly reached 60 million units sold, making it Sony’s most profitable console generation to date. Players are spending significantly more on the PS5 than on the PS4. According to Sony, PS5 users spend more on add-on content, services, and peripherals, but slightly less on full games. This shift suggests a growing trend towards live service games and downloadable content (DLC).
Looking ahead, Sony plans to introduce more players to the PS5 through new peripherals and devices. They aim to grow their popular franchises and enhance live service capabilities. Despite this focus on the PS5, the enduring popularity of the PS4 demonstrates its robust game library and loyal user base.
Sony’s recent business decisions include reducing its workforce by about 8%. Additionally, the company has no major franchise titles planned until April 2025, although they do plan to release Concord, a new online shooter from UK-based Firesprite, later this year.
As Sony continues to balance the success of the PS5 with the sustained popularity of the PS4, it remains to be seen how this strategy will evolve and impact the gaming community.
