A recent dubious leaked article from a tech site has sparked speculation about a possible release of the next Sony console as early as 2018. Involved sources now say that a PS5 is still a long way off.
A leaked questionable article from the tech site SemiAccurate recently provided fodder for discussion among fans and experts. Besides alleged technical details about the PS5, the dubious article hidden behind a $1,000 paywall suggested a launch of the next Sony console as early as 2018. However, according to a recent report from Kotaku, that will not happen. Involved sources say: the PS5 is still far off.
A release of the PlayStation 5 in 2018 is more than unlikely
Journalist Jason Schreier from Kotaku has spoken with a variety of game developers from different studios over the past month about the next console generation. Two of these people claim to be directly familiar with Sony’s plans for a new console.
Both sources agreed that a release of the next PlayStation generation in 2019 is rather unlikely – let alone in 2018. However, both also emphasized that such plans for long-term projects can change constantly. A surprise move from the competition could lead to a change in Sony’s plans.
When Schreier confronted a person familiar with Sony’s plans with the information from SemiAccurate, this person simply laughed. Should the PS5 actually come to market this year, it would already have to be in production. If that were indeed the case, it would be a huge surprise for most people currently involved in the development of games for the upcoming fall and beyond.
The majority of developers with whom Schreier has directly spoken or corresponded assert that they have heard nothing about plans for a new PlayStation. Even employees of Sony’s first-party studios have yet to be informed about the existence of a PS5.
Developers from leading studios across various departments involved in games planned for 2019 and beyond have told Schreier that even if there are any more concrete information about the PlayStation 5, they have not heard anything about it – not even about a new Xbox.
In short, while there are rumors in first and third-party studios regarding the PS5, these are much more limited than is usually the case before an upcoming console launch.
Early DevKits are not a definite indication of an imminent release
The first copies of DevKits reportedly already sent, according to information from SemiAccurate, are another matter.
DevKits are specific hardware combinations that allow developers to design and optimize games for a specific console. This hardware usually comes hand in hand with custom software – such as the console’s operating system and debugging tools.
However, the term DevKit can also be misleading for some. That DevKits have already been sent out can mean several things.
Early-stage DevKits often consist of PCs with an appropriate GPU and CPU intended for the upcoming console generation – so says a source familiar with Sony’s console development.
Early versions of DevKits can differ completely from the actual end product. They may simply be a plain PC tower that looks utterly inconspicuous. According to the source, the first DevKits often look like this.
Throughout the development process, studios work with several versions of the Development Kits. A high-ranking employee of a large development studio told Jason Schreier that his company received actual DevKits only a year before the actual release of the PS4. Another informant stated that his studio worked with PCs disguised as DevKits 18-24 months before the release of the PS4.
So if the first DevKits have indeed been sent to studios, they will likely be extremely well-guarded. In past PlayStation releases, Sony has worked hard to keep the DevKits secret. Sometimes, studios were even asked to store the DevKits in restricted-access areas.
A launch in 2020 is realistic
What Schreier has heard so far from developers is that most people expect the PS5 to be a console capable of playing games that the PS4 can no longer handle. However, according to developers, that will not be the case anytime soon.
At the GDC – the Game Developers Conference – last month, rumors about a possible release in 2020 circulated. During meetings between Sony and some developers, vague hints about that timeframe were reportedly dropped.
Sony itself has not commented on a request from Kotaku. However, it is important to emphasize – when it comes to hardware, everything can change quickly.
