Sony has released new statements regarding the PlayStation 6 and confirmed that preparations for the next generation of consoles are proceeding as planned. While speculation continues about a possible release in 2027 or 2028, CFO Lin Tao provided insight into the ongoing plans during the presentation of the latest financial results. Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 has hit a new milestone: Sony has shipped 97.9 million consoles worldwide, bringing the 100-million mark within sight.
Sony Confirms Progress on the PlayStation 6
The PlayStation 6 has been the subject of discussion for months. Rumors about new AMD hardware, significantly improved graphics performance, and a possible handheld device circulate regularly.
Official details remain scarce. In its latest quarterly earnings report, however, Sony did offer a brief update on development progress. CFO Lin Tao said preparations for the next PlayStation platform are on track. The company expects to make further headway in the coming fiscal year and plans to increase investment in the new platform.
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Sony’s next fiscal year begins on April 1, 2027, underscoring that the next console generation is already a key part of its long-term planning. However, this statement does not yet signal an official unveiling of the PlayStation 6.
More Investments Planned Starting in 2027
Tao stressed that a new console is crucial to PlayStation’s long-term growth.
At the same time, the company must carefully decide how much money to invest in development. The announcement shows that Sony isn’t simply working toward a release as soon as possible. Rather, the new platform is to be prepared in a way that makes economic sense. This is likely also related to the increased costs of memory chips and other hardware components.
These factors have recently raised doubts about whether a new PlayStation could launch as early as 2027.
Does this mean a PS6 launch in 2027?
However, Sony has yet to lock down an official release date for the PlayStation 6. A smooth development timeline does not guarantee a 2027 launch.
A 2028 launch remains a possibility. Sony made it clear back in August that no specific date had been set yet. We reported on this in our article “PS6 Release Date Still Up in the Air: Sony Is Taking Its Time with the New PlayStation.” The new statements do not change this for the time being.
However, they do confirm that development is ongoing and that Sony has not paused its plans. For more details on the rumored hardware, performance, and a possible PlayStation handheld, see our latest overview, “PlayStation 6: 40 Teraflops, Handheld, Release, and Price.” That piece separates rumors from confirmed information.
PlayStation 5 Reaches 97.9 Million Consoles Shipped
Alongside its comments on the next console, Sony released new financial results. As of September 30, 2026, the company had shipped a total of 97.9 million PlayStation 5 consoles worldwide.
Between July and September alone, Sony added another 2.6 million units, leaving the PS5 just 2.1 million short of the 100-million mark. However, the year-over-year comparison is weaker: in the same quarter of 2025, the company shipped around four million consoles.
Sony attributes the drop to the PS5’s advanced life cycle, as the console turns six in November. Nevertheless, the installed base remains enormous.
With nearly 100 million units shipped, Sony still has a vast audience for new games and paid services. It’s important to distinguish between shipments and actual sales to end customers: the official figure of 97.9 million refers to consoles shipped to retailers.
PlayStation Network Grows Despite Declining Hardware Sales
Sony also reports growth in monthly active users. In September 2026, a total of 127 million accounts were active on the PlayStation Network. That’s eight million more than in the same month last year. This marks a new all-time high for PlayStation in September.
This shift shows that the business is no longer defined solely by new console sales. Games, downloadable content, subscriptions, and digital services are becoming increasingly important for Sony. The latest figures reflect this trend in game sales as well. In the past quarter, a total of 88.2 million games were sold on PS4 and PS5 combined.
Digital downloads accounted for about 78 percent of all games sold. https://youtube.com/shorts/m66RwFM0czY For Sony, this is further evidence of how significantly the market has shifted toward digital distribution models.
Memory Prices Remain a Challenge
Rising memory prices remain a challenge, Sony confirms.
So far, Sony has offset the higher costs of the PlayStation 5 through price adjustments, cost savings, and revised marketing strategies. The company also says it has secured agreements with multiple suppliers to cover memory needs for the coming fiscal year.
That detail is also noteworthy for the future PlayStation 6, as a new console generation relies on modern components whose prices can raise the final retail cost. However, it is too early to predict whether the PS6 will cost more than expected, because Sony has not announced an official price or technical specifications.
The PS5 Remains Important as Sony Prepares for the Future
Recent statements show Sony is pursuing two goals at once: keeping the PlayStation 5 successful and reaching as many players as possible, while laying the groundwork for the next console generation.
With nearly 100 million PS5 consoles already shipped, Sony holds a strong position. However, timing the generational shift becomes ever more critical. Launching too early could expose the company to rising hardware costs, while waiting too long might leave gamers wondering when the next technological leap will arrive.
Today’s statements at least make one thing clear: According to Sony, preparations for the PlayStation 6 are on track. However, it remains unclear when we’ll see the console officially for the first time and what technical innovations it will actually offer. Source: VGC Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
