Over the last few months, there have been mounting rumors about the PlayStation 5, including speculation that Sony is planning to announce it at E3 2018 (something which has since been debunked). Recent comments from Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO John Kodera, in which the executive stated that the PS4 is in the "final stage" of its life cycle, have also sent the rumor mill spinning.

However, those hoping for an imminent reveal or release of the PlayStation 5 can cool their jets after Kodera's follow-up comments seem to suggest that the console is some way off. The Wall Street Journal reports that during an interview with press after Sony's Investor Relations Day event, Kodera said that "We will use the next three years to prepare the next step, to crouch down so that we can jump higher in the future."

Kodera's latest comments have been taken by many to mean that the PS5 is going to be released after this three-year timeframe, putting the PS5 release date as 2021 or beyond. But as many have pointed out, during the Investor Relations Day event, Kodera also told people to expect growth after March 2021. With this in mind, it's also possible that the PS5 will release in the holiday season of 2020, leading to growth after this period.

Kodera also reportedly said that the company plans to "depart from the traditional way of looking at the console life cycle," adding that "we're no longer in a time when you can think just about the console or just about the network like they’re two different things." Moreover, Kodera explained that "We need a broader perspective than that because so many things are now connected via the internet."

These comments are in line with other recent statements from Sony's higher-ups as well as other figures in the industry. For example, Sony plans to release more PlayStation exclusive games and additional content in an effort to get players engaged for longer and spending more. Sony rival Microsoft, on the other hand, has launched its Xbox Game Pass subscription service in an effort to generate revenue from recurring subscriptions and DLC in addition to traditional console and game sales.

PlayStation fans may be disappointed with the indication that the PS5 is going to be available this year, or potentially in 2019 either. While the PS4 Pro has given players access to a more powerful system that supports native 4K visuals, a prospective PS5 could offer even more power. Players could potentially see more ambitious games, even richer open-worlds and even more photorealistic graphics. There is also the suggestion that the PS5 will include a next-generation memory system of some kind.

So while fans have some time to wait until Sony is ready to lift the lid on the PlayStation 5, the next three years or so will provide fans with plenty of time to speculate. If Sony is listening, it will also give fans to outline what they want from the next console, giving the company time to implement it.

Source: Wall Street Journal