Don’t expect new PS4 games after 2025
The long goodbye
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Nearly two years after the launch of the current console cycle,Sonyhas shared its plans to stop producing PS4 games by 2025.
Detailing its financial expectations forPS5, PC, and other platforms, Sony’s latestinvestor relations briefinghas one slide titled “evolving shape of first-party portfolio.” Releasing a detailed percentage breakdown for releases by platform, 2025 doesn’t mention thePS4at all, suggesting Sony expects to wind up support by then.
Since the PS5 arrived, we’ve seen a few cross-generation games. At launch,Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesandSackboy: A Big Adventureboth made their way to PS4 and PS5. This year alone,Horizon Forbidden WestandGran Turismo 7joined them, withGod of War Ragnarokmarking the last major (known) cross-gen release.
For now, Sony iscontinuing PS4 production into 2022. That doesn’t include the more powerfulPS4 Pro, but Sony’s last-gen best seller isn’t disappearing just yet. It’s a big difference fromMicrosoft’s strategy, thatended productionon theXbox Oneconsole family in 2020.
PS4 support is gradually winding down
Before the PS5’s launch, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan toldGamesIndustry.biz"We have always said that we believe in generations.” Sackboy and Spider-Man aside, the first year largely delivered on this.Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart,Returnal, Destruction AllStars, and theDemon’s Soulsremake are all big games exclusive to the new hardware.
By comparison, Microsoft offered significant cross-generation support between Xbox One andXbox Series X|S. New-gen exclusives likeMicrosoft Flight Simulatorare slowly appearing, sure. But last year, big hitters likeHalo InfiniteandForza Horizon 5still arrived on both platforms.
Against this, PlayStation’s approach feels more inconsistent. Still, as more PS5 exclusives likeMarvel’s Spider-Man 2get confirmed, cross-gen releases appears to be winding up. We don’t know if Sony plans any further PS4 releases after Ragnarok but, either way, the writing’s on the wall.
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Henry is a freelance writer based in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. When he’s not wandering in VR or burning through his RPG backlog, he’s probably planning his next D&D session.
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