Now that we're nearing the end of the current console generation and the PS4 is gearing up to release the last of its triple-A exclusive games like Death Stranding and The Last of Us: Part 2, all eyes are on the future. We know that Sony is developing the PlayStation 5, and most estimates peg the console for a 2020 release, meaning a PS5 reveal could come as early as this year. It's even possible that Sony has started sending out PS5 dev kits for developers to get started on next-gen projects, which is why some pictures circulating online that claim to show the PS5 controller and dev kit are so convincing.

The photos claim to show a PS5 controller as well as a console dev kit. The console looks tall and blocky, and if it's a real dev kit, it's highly unlikely that it looks like the PS5 consumers would actually purchase. The PS5 controller, meanwhile, looks like a curvier DualShock 4, with the touchpad upgraded to a touch-screen.

While it's technically possible for Sony to have already sent out PS5 controllers and console dev kits, it seems that these images are just convincing fakes. Jason Schreier of Kotaku, known for his insider knowledge of the industry, said that two sources confirmed to him that the pictures were fake. He made this comment in the same ResetEra post where he claimed that the PS5 would be more powerful than Google Stadia.

Schreier also said that dev kits aren't being sent out yet, so there's even less reason to believe that these pictures are leaks of the real deal. However, if PS5 is aiming for a 2020 release as many expect, fans could very well get their first look at the console by the end of the year.

We know Sony is skipping E3 2019, but it's possible that it could reveal the PS5 at the PlayStation Experience in December. Past rumors have claimed that a PS5 reveal is indeed planned for this year's PSX, but if it doesn't come to pass, then an early 2020 reveal seems more likely.

Until Sony itself reveals the PS5 controller and console, fans should take any "leaks" with a massive grain of salt. Fake leaks ramp up as we near new console announcements, so only trust what comes directly from the company itself.