Sony released a demo report that disclosed multiple data related to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation Plus, while revealing the genres of games currently being developed by first-party studios.Sony Interactive Entertainment President Hideaki Nishino said the current business guidance theme of the Japanese company is "Console and Beyond".

About Host and Subscribers

The current console generation is Sony's most profitable period.As early as a year ago, the revenue of this generation of consoles exceeded that of PS4, and the gap has widened further - the PS5 generation has brought Sony $136 billion in revenue, most of which comes from content sales and subscription services in PS stores.

In fiscal year 2024, the number of monthly active users increased by 14%, reaching 124 million.Although most users use PS5, the PS4 hardware remains extremely popular.During the same period, the game duration of players also increased year-on-year, with the cumulative game time reaching 51 billion hours in 2024.In addition, the proportion of users who purchase higher-priced PS Plus Premium subscriptions continues to rise: accounted for 17% of all subscribers in fiscal 2022, rose to 19% in 2023, and reached 22% in 2024.And in paid subscriptions, the basic version (Essential) is still the most popular option.

First-party studio development direction and key works

The demo report also classified Sony's studios by game type: most studios focus on single-player games, with only four strictly developing service-oriented games.

The report also lists flagship works in recent years and future: the most important new work in 2025 is "Solf Hoof Mountain", and "Star: The Prophet of Heresy" and "Marvel Wolverine" are also highlighted.

Strategic Thoughts on the Future of Host and Cloud Games

At the business meeting, Hideaki Nishino responded to questions about PlayStation's future through VGC.When asked whether traditional hosts may be replaced by cloud services, he believed that cloud games are a viable option for players, but there is still a demand for local games:

"Cloud gaming is gradually becoming a supplementary option for players to get content, but we believe that most players still want to experience the game locally, without being restricted by network conditions. The success of PS5 and PS5 Pro has proven this."

Regarding the successor of PS5, Sony is continuing to explore new possibilities, but no details have been disclosed yet:

“We have a huge and highly active player ecosystem in the PS5 and PS4 generations, so the next-generation console strategy is naturally attracting much attention. Although more details cannot be shared at this stage, the future of the platform is always our top priority. We are committed to exploring new ways to get players involved in content and services.”

It is worth noting that there have been recent reports that the PS6 project has entered the advanced stage and may be launched in 2028.