My partner got a ps5 at launch to play the new final fantasy game. He played through it and it’s pretty much been collecting dust ever since. We still use the ps4 as a TV box (Netflix plex etc) I seem to remember every time we wanted to attempt using it the ps5 wanted to update for hours, and then the update finishes and the friggin controller wants updating now. Back to the ps4 for TV, back to the pc for gaems
I don’t think there is really any games and also mod support is basically nonexistent on consoles.
There are games, but few exclusives (just 18 the last time I checked). If you want to play modern games and don’t want a PC, it’s fine for that, without really being special in any way. It is a difficult value proposition for owners of the previous gen, since the jump in visual fidelity is much smaller than between prior generations (an inevitability that isn’t Sony’s fault) and since the previous generation is still being at least partially supported and was strongly supported for a very long time. However, over time, most have clearly made the jump and with the release of GTA VI (timed exclusive for PS), the system will see another significant boost.
Mods are not really a factor on consoles. Very few console gamers care about them. Xbox has slightly better support with fewer restrictions, but there are only a handful of games with support (mainly Bethesda RPGs). It clearly hasn’t helped the competition from Redmond.
It’s because of this:
https://www.vgchartz.com/article/465289/ps5-vs-ps4-sales-comparison-june-2025/
Align PS4 and PS5 sales to their launch date, and you’ll see that the PS5 has been lagging behind. Not by a lot, but it’s noticeable. This is despite the fact that The Xbox Series X/S is doing a bit worse than the Xbox One, and the One did a lot worse than the 360. Nintendo, of course, is in another room doing its own thing.
Sony expected every generation to sell better than the last. The market has clearly hit a saturation point, so that expectation is no longer valid. Combine that with the fact that Moore’s Law (originally defined as the price per integrated component dropping) is completely dead. That means you can no longer expect better hardware to get cheaper. You might be able to find fabs that can give you more performance, but it’ll cost you.
This is why the GabeCube is a good idea from a business persepctive. It will likely have better performance than the Xbox Series X/S, but not as good as the PS5. What it can do is be affordable with good enough hardware. The specs appear to be a bit Frankenstein, which is what you’d expect if Valve grabbed whatever deals on things they could find to put something together.
I got a PS5 shortly after launch which was a chore; I subscribed to a discord group to get notified about new store drops so I could find one at MSRP to avoid scalpers. The only exclusive I played through was the Demon Souls remaster. Ive played other games on it too but they are all cross-platform and I could’ve played them on my gaming PC.
Nice style, fast lodaing screens, 4k and good graphics. But to me, it is just an upgraded ps4. Graphics didnt leap as far as 8bit-16bit-ps1-ps2-ps3. Big focus on improving visuals lead us to have great visuals barely changing overtime, but gameplay didnt evolve.
gameplay didn’t evolve
Massive understatement. The PS5’s biggest titles were remakes and direct sequels. Coupling it with the “upgraded” versions of PS4 games like Ghost of Tsushima, Last of Us Part 2, and GTA5, even the marketing seemed to boil down to “This is just a really nice PS4.”
It… does feel like a success, though?
it feels like it’s winning, but it doesn’t feel as successful as the numbers show it is. Everyone has a PS5 but a lot of them are collecting dust already.
Everyone has a PS5
Feels like a success to me?
If no one is buying new games, that is bad for Sony and bad for the industry. Part of Sony’s business model is built around the revenue from digital game sales and PS plus memberships. You ain’t makin money from those if no one is using the consoles they bought.
I never got the PS5 because the PS3 -> PS4 jump was too underwhelming, when PC is pulling away so many games. And it’s not about or solvable with exclusives, because there are literally no games I can think of that would make me buy a whole console just to play. Imho PC gaming, especially in the Golden Age of Indies, is just too strong an argument unless you are a console-only gamer.
Yup think the PS5 is going to be my last console purchase. In future if i get the itch to play on the tv i’ll plug my laptop into the TV.
The only reason I got a PS5 was because my PS4’s HDMI port got damaged somehow. The controller is a significant upgrade if games use it, but not a lot do. Looking back, I probably would have been fine without it at all since I have a Steam Link and that works great in the TV
The main reason why I got one was because my PS4 was on its last legs after the hammering it got during 8 months of covid lockdown and furlough, and the whole console was cheaper than a new graphics card for my PC (+the other upgrades it needed to accommodate it).
The new controller is epic and that astrobot demo game really showcased its capabilities, but no other games have used it, even other exclusives like god of war. Wasted opportunity.
Exclusives? So PS5 isn’t as good as PS4 because you can play more of its catalogue on other platforms? This feels like a bad take to me.
People here already mentioning a lot of other good points that I think are bigger contributors to the feeling of the PS5 being less successful than it is.
My opinion is it is the turmoil in the games. Big money bought out many studios and brought a focus to shareholder value rather than games people want to play. Enshitification is everywhere. Doesn’t matter what your platform if choice is, last few years haven’t been great for gaming.
I don’t think it really is a success at least not a success in sony’s eyes an I hope they have a plan on what to do about the excess ps5s after it got the final nail in the coffin.
