that playstation 5 It's certainly a successful console, outpacing its main competitor, the Xbox Series X|S, by about 2.5 to 1 globally. While it may not match the original Nintendo Switch's all-time best-selling record, it sits comfortably as the market leader of its generation and could easily be considered a commercial success.
But if you've only seen forums and social media discussions about the console, you might not think so. Some people think the PS5 is a lackluster console with no games (or at least not good ones) and underperforming for the cost of entry. Some of this vitriol can be attributed to all-too-widespread practices such as internet negativity and outrage baiting, but if you look more closely at the console's performance, there's actually a lot to criticize. This is true for entire generations as well, but some of Sony's choices during this period could have serious knock-on effects for years to come.
PS5 has officially beaten PS3.
Sony's iconic PlayStation consoles continue to compete against each other, with the PlayStation 5 finally taking the win over the PlayStation 3.
PlayStation's Live Service Pipe Dream
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan may have overseen a tumultuous PS5 launch during COVID-19, but judging by online reaction, his legacy will probably be remembered for less pleasant efforts. It's no secret that Sony has taken a surprising, off-brand, circuitous route into the live services market, with as many as a dozen such games reportedly in development by the early 2020s. Although this initiative was actively promoted by Ryan, it was a major blow to the bold, high-quality single-player games that made the PlayStation brand successful in the 2010s.
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On the one hand, it's not hard to imagine why Sony would pursue more multiplayer projects. That's because multiplayer projects have historically been an area dominated by Xbox and PC. This is doubly so since Xbox acquired Activision-Blizzard. But the best thing about live service games is that they are supported consistently and reliably for years, rather than simply being released and put into maintenance mode. For this to be financially viable (especially for a free-to-play game) you need to be huge, committed, and most importantly, committed to a specific live service. growing Player based. Enjoy games like: fortniteProbably the most successful live service of all time. It has over 390 million registered users, and concurrent players consistently hover around 1 million. It's hard enough to get those kinds of numbers in one game, let alone a dozen. This is why most live service games fail. It's simply because we're running out of fuel. Players only have so much time.
agreement
No game illustrates the lack of fuel better than this. agreementPerhaps Sony's biggest failure this generation. It is expected to be released in 2024 and will reportedly cost more than $200 million to develop. agreement The production lasted only two weeks before the studio that created it closed. Hundreds of millions of dollars and years of hard work were wasted on this game. You can't blame everything on Sony, but Firewalk Studios agreementIn the end, you have to wonder why a project like this that almost no one wants was ever deemed worthy of so much investment.
Sony has scaled back its live service efforts dramatically since then, with other high-profile live service failures such as High guardI wouldn't be surprised if it shrinks even more. There are many gamers applauding Jim Ryan's departure, but while it is a step in the right direction, it is not a complete turnaround. The company reportedly still has six to eight live service games in the pipeline, and has suffered significant losses from: agreement It could harm first-party PlayStation games in the near future.
PSN Steam requirement undermines Sony's PC momentum
Sony took another unique approach during this console generation. It's bringing some of its games to Steam. Here are some of the most famous PlayStation exclusives to come to PC in recent years:
- Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy
- God of War (2018)
- god of war ragnarok
- horizon zero dawn
- Horizon Forbidden West
- The Last of Us Part 1 & 2
no, Bloodborne Not yet available on PC.
Moving a lot of PlayStation exclusives to PC isn't a bad thing. In fact, this is one of the most popular decisions Sony has made in the past few years. Aside from benefiting PC users for obvious reasons, it makes financial sense to build a better foothold in the PC market. The PC gaming community isn't getting any smaller, so Sony is essentially leaving money on the table by holding its proprietary “hostages” to its own hardware.
But Sony has hit upon itself with strict PSN requirements that applied to almost all PlayStation games on PC, including single-player games, until 2025. It is still required for some multiplayer titles, such as: Ghost of Tsushima Legend. Not only is this an unnecessary hurdle, but it also means that countless PC users are unable to play a number of PlayStation port games for what are generally considered arbitrary reasons, as PSN access is blocked in over 100 countries. Sony has removed the PSN requirement for many PC games, but it certainly won't help it favor PC users going forward, as the company appears to be moving away from PC ports more broadly.
Dramatic price increase for PlayStation 5
This decision is recent, but not particularly devastating. In April 2026, Sony significantly increased the prices of the following hardware:
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PlayStation 5: Changed to $649.99. Originally $499.99.
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PlayStation 5 Digital: Changed to $599.99. Originally $399.99.
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PlayStation 5 Pro: Changed to 899.99. Originally $699.99.
Such a drastic price increase is highly unusual during the console's nearly six-year life cycle. Traditionally, consoles have become cheaper, not lower, over the years. The PS5 has sold well, but many consumers are holding off on upgrading until the price comes down. Now, these consumers may not buy a PS5 at all. The times are also dire, as the soaring cost of living in many countries makes it much more impossible for most people to purchase expensive luxuries. And if this is any indication of the PlayStation 6 price, Sony could be in serious trouble within a few years.
