The PlayStation 5 is in an advantageous strategic position, even in the face of the current global scenario of challenges. As stated by Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki on August 22, 2026, the memory crisis affecting the hardware industry came at an opportune time for the console, precisely because it is already in the final part of its life cycle. This particular situation allows the company to concentrate its efforts in other areas.

When asked about the effects of rising component costs on Sony’s business, Totoki responded clearly: “We’re lucky. We’re in the second half of the console’s lifecycle, which means we don’t need to sell the console aggressively currently. Instead, we’re focusing on the current user base. PS Plus already has over 125 million monthly active users today and monetizing those users is very important to us.”

More on this story: PS5 owners get three free games without having to subscribe to PS Plus

It is important to clarify that the 125 million monthly active users, mentioned by the executive, refer to the total consumer base of the PlayStation ecosystem, with data updated until June 30, and not specifically to the number of subscribers to the PS Plus service. This distinction is fundamental for an accurate understanding of the scenario.

Regardless of the accuracy of the service’s subscribers, Sony’s strategic direction is clear. With more than 95 million PlayStation 5 units already sold, the Japanese company has no urgency to launch new equipment. The current priority is to optimize revenue from the vast user base already established, and the PS Plus platform emerges as the central tool for this goal.

Future challenges for PlayStation 6 development

While the component crisis favors the current situation of the PS5, the outlook for the future console is different. The increase in the price of hardware items poses a considerable obstacle to the creation and pricing of Sony’s next PlayStation. Despite not yet having a set release date, the PS6 will be released at some point and will likely encounter a significantly more unfavorable cost environment.

Totoki’s speech is in line with the stance that the company has been adopting recently: focusing on generating revenue from already loyal players. The big question, however, remains whether this strategy will be enough to retain the user base in the next generation of consoles, especially considering the expectation of very high launch values ​​for the future PS6.