The holiday season is usually a good excuse to splurge on a new console, though with the PS5 now six years old, “new” is doing some heavy lifting. Spending hundreds of dollars is easier to justify when you expect to get years out of it. But with Sony presumably already working on the next PlayStation, is now the right time to buy?
Sony’s history offers a rough timeline and could help you plan your shopping strategy. The PS4 launched in North America in November 2013, followed by the PS5 in November 2020. If Sony sticks to that seven-year gap, the next console (let’s call it the PS6) would land in late 2027. The PS5 just turned six, so it’s fair to wonder whether you should hold out one more year.
To be clear, Sony hasn’t announced a release date for hte PlayStation 6. We know the company is investing in its next-generation platform, but the timing of its last two consoles doesn’t guarantee anything about the next one. It's entirely possible we could still be waiting well past next Christmas before the PS6 is even released.
Memory prices also complicate things. Sony has said it expects memory to stay expensive and supply to stay tight through 2027. It has also specifically discussed those conditions when talking about the PS6’s timing and price. That doesn’t confirm a delay, but it does mean Sony has more to weigh than whether the hardware is ready.
So whether a PS5 makes sense right now comes down to what you’d actually play on it. If you’re still on a PS4 and have spent a few years watching games you wanted pass you by, upgrading is easier to justify. You already know what you’re buying it for, and you can spend the wait for the PS6 catching up.
If you have an Xbox Series X or a gaming PC you’re happy with, waiting is easier. A couple of PlayStation exclusives might tempt you. But ask yourself whether you’d use a second console enough to justify the cost.
Either way, there’s no rush. As of this writing, neither Sony nor retailers have discounted the PS5 for Black Friday. Most deals we've seen so far cover games, expansions and DLC, with no specific console deals or bundles. As it currently stands, PlayStation Direct currently lists the 825GB Digital Edition at $599, the standard 1TB model with a disc drive at $649, and the 2TB PS5 Pro at $899. Keep those numbers in mind as holiday offers roll out.
I’d wait to see the full lineup of holiday deals before paying full price. A decent discount on a standard PS5 could be worth it if you’re coming from a PS4. But I’d think twice about spending $899 on a Pro when the next PlayStation is already on your mind.
If your current setup keeps you entertained, hold onto your money until there’s something you really want to play. But if you’ve got a backlog of PS5 games waiting, don’t put them off just because the last generation happened to last seven years.