PlayStation 5: Success or Just Another Box?

The PlayStation 5 has sold over 80 million units, beating the Xbox Series X and matching the sales pace of its predecessor, the PS4. Sony is making good money from digital game sales and a huge player base.

Microsoft, Sony's main rival, has been busy with other projects like PC gaming, Game Pass, and buying Activision Blizzard, leaving Xbox consoles with less focus and fewer exclusive games. Next year, even Halo will be on PlayStation, showing that Microsoft has practically given up on the console war. So, why does the PS5 feel like a letdown?

The PS5: Big but Not Always Better

The PS5 is big and powerful, but it can't always show true 4K resolution in most big games. It was supposed to be faster and better, but the difference isn't always noticeable. Plus, many gamers don't even own 4K TVs or care much about the higher resolution.

The PS5 is also backward compatible with PS4 games, which is great, but it also means that many games don't need the PS5's extra power to run well. Games like Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft don't require a next-gen console, making the upgrade less exciting.

Sony's Struggle with Exciting New Games

Sony has also struggled with delivering exciting new games. Many big projects were canceled, like a multiplayer God of War game and Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Online. Sony even shut down a game called Concord just two weeks after it launched. While there have been some great games like Astro Bot and Spider-Man 2, there haven't been enough to make the PS5 feel like a must-have console.

Why Has the PS5 Sold So Well?

The PS5 launched during the pandemic when people were spending more time and money on gaming. But even with all the hype and high sales, the PS5 hasn't pulled away from the PS4 in terms of sales.

The future of consoles is also uncertain, with PC gaming and cloud gaming on the rise. The PS5 might not be the last PlayStation, but the next one might look very different or not be much of an upgrade.