PS5 Release Date: PS4 Pro & Xbox One X here to stay, as experts predict new console delays

The surprise performance of Nintendo Switch might have stolen some of Sony and Microsoft's console limelight in 2017, but it shouldn't be undersold that both Sony's PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One family are still setting sales records.

The incredible performance of both consoles is great for owners as they're clearly getting their money's worth with some excellent exclusive games to play in the meantime.

However, the consequence of this success is that both Sony and Microsoft might be looking at these awesome numbers and thinking about slowing up progress on their next console or future game projects.

As PlayStation fans will most likely know, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, Shawn Layden, confirmed that a PS5 was in the works and "coming”, and though he did all add that it might be some time before it actually arrives, it's possible Sony could yet put it back even further.

Equally despite the launch of Xbox One X last year, it would be silly to think Microsoft don't have some sort of plan for their next console, since the X was more of a upgrade on the existing Xbox One as opposed to completely new hardware.

Added fuel to the fire that Sony and Microsoft could be looking to delay the next console generation are comments from two reputable industry experts, who have both suggested this month that Sony and Microsoft could be looking at slowing down their future plans.

First of all, industry expert Christopher Dring, publisher for the highly respected website Gameindustry.biz, told followers in early January that he'd been hearing rumours of "Sony slowing up progress on PS5 rattling around for a few months".

And earlier this week, Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) an analyst at Niko Partners who covers the digital games market in China & Southeast Asia revealed a load of information to Resetera users about Microsoft's future plans.

"I should note that a lot of the investment going on now is something that will be fully reflected in the 'next generation' (whatever that actually means). What this means, in the case of something like the recently rumored Fable 4 game for example, is that i wouldn't expect projects like that to release for quite some time.

"However, any initiatives that you do see hit in 2018 / 2019 are an indication of what Microsoft is planning for the 'next generation'.

Previously and throughout 2017 several industry experts have tentatively predicted a PS5 release date pitched somewhere between 2019-2021 and with the fact both console makers have typically launched at the same time, we can assume that this is also when Microsoft would look to launch whatever they're planning post Xbox One X.

Even in 2017 though, the idea that console makers could effectively push back a launch for their console generation were already starting to gather pace, with Industry analyst Michael Pachter perhaps giving the best explanation in light of Sony's continued PS4 profits and sales.

Speaking on The 1099 Podcast back in September, Pachter said: "I think that's exactly when you'll see one (PS5) 2019 or 2020, and if I had to bet, it's 2020.

“Sony's making so much money with the PS4 that I think they'll continue to milk it as long as they can milk it.

“And I think the natural extension of that is the PS4 Pro becomes the default PS4, and they just knock that price down to $250 when they can and they keep selling it -- a tonne of those.

“The PS5 is probably going to be their real 4K device, and so it just feels to me that they're not going to launch the PS5 until sales momentum for the PS4 slows, and it just hasn't.

“So you certainly get through 2017, 2018, and I just don't see it slowing in 2018 which should prop them to launch something in 2019.

“If it slows in 2019, they're probably launching in 2020."

Sony’s PS4 console is still selling fantastically having dominated 2017 once again, pipping Microsoft's Xbox One with far superior game sales.

However, focus has already started shifting towards Sony's next console, which we assume will be called the PlayStation 5.

Last year, PlayStation boss Shawn Layden confirmed that while a PS5 is in the works and "coming” it would still “probably be some time” before it arrives.

Which tallies up with industry experts who have tentatively predicted a 2019-2021 release date.

Most recently, Lewis Ward, IDC research director for gaming and VR/AR, told Gamingbolt that Sony’s console could be be a good few years off, as long as the current PlayStation continues to dominate hardware charts.

“Right now I think PS5 and the next-gen Xbox will arrive in 2021, but that’s really just a tentative placeholder in my forecast,” Lewis said.

In fact, Ward believes that before the PS5 launches, we could see the PS4 become the first current-gen console to hit 100 million sales, which could happen as soon as 2019.

“I think the PS4 will probably get there in 2019,” Ward predicted in his comments to Gamingbolt.

Well known Technology website Tech Radar has also previously suggested a 2020 release date for the PlayStation 5, writing:

"Given that the PlayStation 4 was launched in 2013 and Sony’s previous consoles arrived in six-year intervals, it would be easy to project that it will launch the PlayStation 5 in 2019.

"The sort of technology available then should easily allow full native 4K games without saddling the PS5 with a massive price-tag and, by 2019, 4K TVs will be the norm, rather than the exception, in the average household.

"Perhaps 2020 might be the year in which Sony unleashes the PS5 on the world, as the first native 4K console with wireless VR ... as long as Microsoft doesn’t get there first."

With the majority of information about both console makers limited to speculation and rumour for the time being, it's possible that we won't learn anything concrete until at least E3 2018.

But equally, if both Sony and Microsoft are looking at pushing back the consoles even further, then it's not guarenteed we will hear anything, especially if the release date is looking closer to 2020/21.

The only thing you can say for sure, is that the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X will continue to sell like hot cakes for the time being, with Nintendo also benefiting from their own unique corner of the gaming market.

Good news, surely, for all three parties.