The PS5 had the heavy burden of surpassing the PS4 and its massive game library, but it succeeded. From new titles and exciting sequels to more powerful hardware and the DualSense controller, I have countless times immersed myself in these game worlds, reluctant to leave. However, as the PS5 enters the later stages of its lifecycle, my expectations for the PS6 stem more from questions than excitement. The issue is not that Sony no longer makes great games, but that its recent decisions make me feel it is losing the original essence of PlayStation.
Sony's online service strategy, project cancellations, shifts in hardware strategy, unsuccessful game launches, and the end of its collaboration with Hideo Kojima have all exacerbated this uncertainty. The failure of Concord and the disappointing reception of Marathon only added fuel to the fire. Even Marvel's Wolverine, which should have been an easy win for PlayStation, received mixed reviews. As a player who has been with PlayStation since the original console, I can't help but wonder if the PS6 will exacerbate these problems.
PlayStation's Online Service Strategy Comes at Too High a Cost
Sony's decision to heavily invest in live-service games was one of the biggest changes to its PlayStation strategy during the PS5 generation. Then-president Jim Ryan pushed to follow the trend and go all-in. Sony planned to release 12 live-service games before the 2025 fiscal year, an ambitious plan. If successful, this would provide a continuous revenue stream, retain PS5 players in unprecedented ways, and allow them to enjoy endless experiences within some of Sony's most popular game worlds.
The most obvious example is Concord, a game I genuinely liked. It had a great setting and solid gameplay, but the live-service model was completely unsuitable for it. It should have been a narrative-driven game, especially since it initially felt somewhat like Guardians of the Galaxy. Unfortunately, due to insufficient player numbers, the game was pulled from shelves about two weeks after launch. Sony subsequently shut down the developer, Firewalk, wasting years of development time and money.
This is not an isolated case. Sony later canceled the online service game for God of War and the multiplayer project for The Last of Us. Games from Bend Studio and Bluepoint Studios suffered the same fate, with Bluepoint even shutting down the project entirely. These cancellations do not mean the developers' time was completely wasted, as these resources could be redirected elsewhere, but they do demonstrate how Sony's strategy invests resources into games that ultimately never reach players.
PlayStation Is Losing What Makes It Unique
One of the most frustrating aspects of the PS5 generation has been Sony's shifting attitude toward physical games. Sony plans to stop producing physical games by 2028, forcing players to purchase digital versions. This further raises questions about the concept of video game ownership and monopolizes the channels through which players can buy games. Physical games often sell better, have collectible value, and can be resold later.
Digital games are certainly convenient, but convenience is not equivalent to ownership. When a company shifts to digital distribution, it gains greater control over how games are sold and accessed. For players who want to preserve their game libraries, lend games to friends, or resell them, this shift raises concerns about the future of PlayStation hardware. Physical discs are tangible proof of ownership; stripping players of this right makes the concept of ownership ambiguous.
Sony's relationship with game developers faces similar uncertainty. Hideo Kojima's Physint was initially announced as a PlayStation project, but Sony confirmed in September 2026 that it would terminate the partnership. Fortunately, Kojima found a partner in Xbox to continue developing Physint, but this also exposed Sony's attitude. If it is willing to part ways with one of the industry's giants, what does this mean for other game studios?
The PS6 Needs More Than Just Better Hardware
The PS5 still boasts some of the best games of this generation. Although there have been some mediocre releases recently, its history includes masterpieces like Ghost of Tsushima, Death Stranding 2, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Forbidden West. These games prove that PlayStation still has heavyweight titles capable of attracting players. However, most of these games are older and cannot sustain the console's future development indefinitely.
Marathon is an example of why I remain cautious. After multiple delays and controversies, the game finally launched, but its player base is now dwindling. Marvel's Wolverine has also received consistently negative reviews from critics and players, performing far worse compared to Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man series. This shows that even well-known IPs and high production costs cannot guarantee quality, casting a shadow over the future of Sony's studios.
The PS6 still has the potential to be an excellent home console. Better hardware, faster load times, more powerful graphics, and a new generation of first-party games are all things to look forward to. However, Sony needs to prove that it understands the real reasons players buy PlayStation consoles. Players want great games, a rich library, and confidence in the long-term playability of their purchased games. Sony has time to address these issues, but the PS6 cannot rely solely on the PlayStation brand to sustain its growth.
