PS5 release could destroy the competition
Sony will launch the PlayStation 5 in late 2018, according to Damian Thong, an analyst with Macquarie Research.
According to Thong’s report, not only will the PS5 release date target a 2018 window, but it will be far more powerful than anything else on the market, including the Xbox Scorpio, boasting a 10 TFLOP GPU.
“We see sustained profit growth in Game & Network Services. We forecast OP growth from ¥140bn in FY3/17 to ¥180bn in FY3/18, driven by expanding software sales and profits,” said Thong. “A rising digital ratio and a higher mix of first-party titles will help margins – Horizon Zero Dawn, which launched on 28 Feb, looks to have had a good start with a Metacritic score of 88. While we have tempered expectations to account for rivalry with Microsoft/Xbox and PC gaming, we note that the success of PS VR (which has reached 915K units sold) highlights the health of the ecosystem. We expect Sony to launch a >10 TFLOPS ‘PS5’ in 2H18 to secure the installed base.” – Source
Thong isn’t the only analyst to chime in on the possibility of the PS5. Just a few weeks back, Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter predicted that Sony will launch its next-generation home console in 2020, around the same time that 4K TV adoption will rise significantly. However, Pachter’s release window seems far more realistic at this point; 2018 is far too premature, particularly as PS4 Pro has only just hit stores.
The PS4 was released in November 2013 and competes directly with the Xbox One, though to date Sony has gained a significant lead over its rival, selling 53.4 million units worldwide to date. PSVR, which hit stores in October last year, is also off to a solid start, with over 900,000 units sold to date.
Source: GamingBolt