With the release of the PS5 just around the corner, both the gaming community and Sony have begun to examine the current state of affairs. For the past seven years, Sony has enjoyed success with the PS4, but now that the industry is moving into a whole new hardware generation, some might think that the PS4 would not last after the release of the PS5. However, according to Sony it won't be abandoning its current-gen tech anytime soon.
Once a new generation of game console surfaces, the previous generation tends to linger for a while before it is discontinued. That being said, it also depends on the developer and video game in question. For example, when Persona 5 first released back in 2016, Atlus developed a version of the game for the PS3 as well as the PS4 - ten years after the PS3 first launched.
It really comes down to the publisher that creates a console, but Sony seems to be very open to the idea of adding PS4 support for next-gen games potentially into 2022. If this is the case, it means many next-gen, Sony-exclusive games have the potential to receive PS4 ports.
The CEO of PlayStation, Jim Ryan, commented on the more in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, saying that within the last six months especially the PS4 community has grown. Ryan went on to say that come 2022, the vast majority of PlayStation users will be playing on PS4. Therefore, it would be in Sony's best interest to continue to provide for PS4 players well after the launch of the PS5.
In many ways, this is a pretty smart move on Sony's part. Considering how much of an impact COVID-19 has made on the gaming industry within the last year, many new people are buying consoles and games. If the community of PS4 owners has really risen to that significant a level, it may take several years for the PS5 to reach that same level.
Not to mention how many developers of next-gen games would be open to the idea of porting their games for the PS4 as well. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the Horizon Zero Dawn sequel already have PS4 versions, but it might not stop there. If games like Resident Evil 8 or God of War: Ragnarok receive PS4 ports, it could allow many additional players to enjoy these new experiences alongside next-gen console owners.
The PS5 is set to launch on November 12, 2020.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz