PlayStation Boss Confirms Existence Of PS5, Won't Follow Evolutionary Model Of Smartphones

Shaw Layden doesn't think the PlayStation brand will have iterative upgrades.

With Sony releasing the PlayStation 4 Pro late last year, some people might be assuming that mid-generation console upgrades will be the norm moving forward; much like how there are yearly refreshes for smartphones. If you're wondering what this means for the PS5, don't fret, as Sony Interactive Entertainment America CEO Shawn Layden confirms there will be a PS5.

Speaking to German publication Golem.de, Layden was asked when we'll see the first games that will run on PS4 Pro, but won't be compatible with the original PS4. Thankfully, Layden shoots down this question with an emphatic, "That will never happen!" Segueing onto another question, the publication asked Layden about the PS4 Pro's smartphone-like iterative hardware update, which could lead some people to believe that "console generations" are a thing of the past. Layden, however, explains, "The Pro is really only to offer advantages such as 4K resolutions and HMD for players who can and want to use that. Add to this a more stable image rate and larger hard disk space. But who has a standard PS4 has no real disadvantages. Each of our games will continue to run on the classic PS4 and possibly slightly better on the Pro."

Prodded on whether Sony will rely on actual new hardware, such as the PlayStation 5, Layden gives a simple "Yes," but adds that "it will probably take some time."

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This is certainly good news for console gamers -- especially those who think we're stuck in mid-generation refresh limbo for the foreseeable future. Of course given the success of the PS4 Pro at retail, I wouldn't put it past Sony to release a PS5 Pro once that console has been out in the market for a few years.

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