The PlayStation 6 is still a long way from its official release, and yet some members of the PlayStation community are already wondering if Sony is facing a fundamental problem: the apparent lack of significant difference between the PS5 and what could become the PS6.
The promised next‑gen console must of course surpass the PS5 in almost all respects: graphics, performance, tools, innovations… But one question persists: Is the generational leap still really visible when we are already on a machine as powerful as the PS5, and especially the PS5 Pro??
This debate is not just anecdotal: it goes to the heart of the perception of “progress” in the video game industry. Players who mostly value visual and technical improvement might be less inclined to spend £550-700 if the difference isn’t impressive.
A comparison of generations: huge gaps… then levels
To understand why some believe the PS6 already faces a problem, you have to look back. When comparing certain generations, the gap is clear:
- The jump from the original PlayStation to the PS2 has been sensational, especially thanks to games like GTA III who redefined what was possible on console.
- The leap between PS2 and PS3, while less monumental, was still noticeable visually and technically.
- Looking at the PS3 to the PS4, games like Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception And Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End show a clear improvement in terms of details and mechanics.
More recently, while impressive, some current generation games like Ghost of Tsushima have proven that the visual gap between flagship titles can already reach new heights on PS5. And Red Dead Redemption 2initially released in 2018, still exceeds many current productions in terms of graphic ambition and animation.
This observation fuels a debate: today, Perceived technical limitations on consoles make the next big “visual shock” less likelysimply because the machines are already extremely powerful.
An irremediable problem or a natural evolution of the industry?
To defend Sony, this phenomenon is not specific to the company or the PS6: it affects all platforms. When consoles become technologically very advanced, incremental progress becomes more difficult to make visible to the naked eye.
For players equipped with a PS5 Pro, who are often more sensitive to visual differences, this poses a central question: what value to add to justify a new machine cycle if the visual and technical difference remains marginal?
This debate could well become central as Sony releases more information about the PS6, because the perception of the generation gap becomes as important as raw technical specifications.
What does the future hold for exclusives and the PlayStation experience?
Another point often cited in discussions concerns exclusives. According to some previously published estimates, the PS5 would have offered fewer exclusives than the PS4 and even fewer than the PS3. If the PS6 really wants to mark a breakthrough, it may have to focus more on ambitious exclusive titles that fully exploit its capabilities.
That said, this issue is perhaps less technical than emotional: players want to feel real changenot just reading numbers on a data sheet.
So even though the PS6 represents a quantum leap forward in terms of hardware, the perception of the generation gap could remain minimal because of what modern consoles are already capable of offering today.