Why You Should Hold Off on Buying a Hypothetical PS6

We’re nearly six years into the console era that kicked off when PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launched in December 2020, so it’s easy to assume the next wave should feel like a reason to get genuinely thrilled. That’s the pattern we’ve seen for decades: each generation lasts roughly the same span, then the next one arrives with millions of players eager to be impressed by fresh hardware, pulled into new releases, and ready to spend on a new system.

New consoles are supposed to raise the ceiling—pushing visuals further, enabling new gameplay options, and justifying the cost with features that make you feel like you’re part of the moment. PS5 and Xbox Series X already moved the conversation forward, landing at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second in ways that were once mostly limited to gaming PCs, and they still delivered standout experiences such as Astro’s Playroom and Demon’s Souls. Still, as time went on, the industry repeatedly hit the limits of what it could realistically promise, shaped by the brutal realities of modern triple-A development and technology expenses that keep climbing, even when the reasons aren’t entirely within anyone’s control.

First-party exclusives have also been harder to come by. Some studios managed only a handful of releases across the entire generation—sometimes effectively one or two—while others leaned heavily on familiar remasters. Third-party publishers have kept momentum, but they’re dealing with the same structural problem: budgets that balloon faster than revenue, and production schedules that stretch beyond sustainable limits. In practice, that means every game is expected to be an instant hit or risk layoffs and studio shutdowns. It’s a rough moment for the industry overall, and it’s no surprise that traditional console cycles are being scrutinized more closely as both hardware and software become more expensive than ever.

And for the first time in gaming history, we’ve spent an entire console cycle watching system prices climb rather than falling—meaning fewer players get easier access over time. So what real reason do we have to feel excited about what comes next?

The PS6 Is Coming Whether We Are Ready For It Or Not

It’s hard to imagine PlayStation and Xbox weren’t already putting early planning into the next generation while PS5 and Series X|S were still rolling out. That same planning momentum is reflected in the idea that PS6 and Project Helix specs have been taking shape for years now. Research and development for hardware like this doesn’t happen overnight; it can take a very long time and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. With that in mind, it would be unrealistic to believe either company could simply pause or cancel the effort just because the market shifted under their feet.

Triple-A games typically take five years or more to build these days, so it’s worth thinking about how much lead time a console needs when it’s expected to run those titles. Recent figures claim the cost to manufacture a PS6 has jumped from $760 to nearly $1,000 due to higher component pricing—cost pressures that major companies worldwide are dealing with at the same time. There’s also a bitter irony here: some of those same brands are pushing forward with data centers, which add to the overall cost structure that drives hardware expenses in the first place. Either way, the bill ultimately lands with players.

I can’t realistically see Project Helix or PS6 landing below $900. If PS5 Pro is already edging toward four figures, how long will it take before a brand-new console finally breaks that line for good?

On top of all that, the spread of live-service games—think Fortnite, Roblox, and Call of Duty—has changed how millions of people play. For many, it no longer feels like every few months will bring a major exclusive release, or that each year will deliver a title that meaningfully reinvents a favorite series. Instead, we’re living in an expanding set of online “ecosystems” designed to be continuously updated, and that removes some of the pressure to upgrade when a new console arrives. If Fortnite or Call of Duty is already running well on what you own, the incentive to switch hardware gets a lot weaker.

Another PS6 rumor that’s been making the rounds is that it won’t include a disc drive. The reasoning being floated is that PlayStation is moving away from physical media. For anyone who already invested in discs, that kind of change lands like a slap in the face: the medium you bought into is treated as something you’re expected to abandon. Project Helix is also reportedly being designed without a disc drive, framed as a cost-saving move and a way to increase profit by cutting out physical distribution. Given that Helix is described as having a hybrid-PC style approach, it doesn’t come as a surprise. But it’s still a direction worth worrying about, because it suggests games as an art form are being pushed aside in favor of maximizing revenue above all else.

But That Doesn’t Mean We Have To Accept It

Sure, the next systems will bring a new controller, a fresh interface, and more performance than ever. But that doesn’t automatically solve the bigger question: why should players care if the current generation hasn’t proven itself enough over the six years it’s already been on the market? We’re being asked to upgrade even though the devices under our TVs are still doing their job. Meanwhile, the industry has dug itself into a costly trap—overly large budgets, overly long development cycles, and generational timetables that used to be the plan, but have now become their own worst enemy.

PlayStation’s lineup of exclusive titles is currently looking thin, while Xbox is reportedly heading into the largest round of layoffs in its history. That wave is said to lead to the closure of numerous studios as costs are trimmed, which means the moment these new consoles arrive, they may not be stacked with games that are either unavailable elsewhere or significantly better than what already runs on current systems.

Our own James Lucas has also shared an analysis of how Sony’s retreat from physical media hands the future of video games to PC in more than one way.

I’d like to believe that the harsh reality we’re dealing with right now—constant corporate restructuring, rising expenses, and studio closures—can still be the foundation for something more stable and genuinely better for the medium. Hope is tough in the current climate. Still, players can try to “vote with their wallets,” even if that means swallowing some of the biggest fear of missing out we’ve ever seen when PS6 launches.

Things are likely to get worse before they improve, and it’s worth being clear about one thing: major gaming companies will absolutely try to squeeze more profit out of you if they can. We don’t need PS6 right now—and we don’t need new console hardware in general in order for the industry to move forward.