About a week ago, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) decided to reveal the hardware details of the PS5, confirming that the next-gen console will be backward compatible, have improved audio and resolution support, and include many other features. Of course, SIE's announcement of the system has led to wide speculation as to when the company could release the follow-up to the PS4. While an official launch date has yet to be confirmed, Sony recently stated that its next-gen PlayStation won't launch "over [the] next 12 months".

This much was declared by Sony during a recent earnings call, as the company also reconfirmed the development of the PS5, and stated an "increase in development expensed for the next generation console." So, with no PlayStation 5 coming over the course of the "next 12 months", this means that SIE doesn't intend on putting out the PS5 until May 2020 at the earliest, with there being a possibility for an even later launch date. Some have already theorized a holiday 2020 release.

Prior to Sony's confirmation and reveal of the PlayStation 5's hardware details, the general consensus seemed to be that 2020 would be the year in which the tech titan would release its next-gen system to the public. However, considering SIE's statement in its recent earnings call, it leaves a door open to the chance that the PS5 might see a 2021 or even a 2022 release date, which is the prediction of Yasuo Imanaka, an industry analyst for Rakuten Securities.

Beyond its speculated release date, it's a safe bet to make that plenty of Sony fans also want to know the PS5's possible price point in order to ensure that they have plenty of money in the bank ahead of the console's launch. As of now, many have surmised that the PS5 could cost $499, which would make it cheaper than the 60 GB PS3 was at launch ($599), but a little more expensive than an original PS4 was at launch ($399).

All things considered, we will simply have to wait and see just when Sony will put the PS5 on the market and how much the system will set players back in terms of its cost. Until then, there's no doubt that plenty of fans will keep discussing the PS5's potential game list at launch and beyond in the hopes that their favorite exclusive franchises and third-party titles make an appearance on the console.

The PS5 has yet to receive an official release date.

Source: Takashi Mochizuki - Twitter