2026 will be a significant turning point for PlayStation 4 users. According to a published report, many major studios in the gaming industry have decided to discontinue support for previous-generation consoles. This development suggests that PS4 users will experience a more limited gaming experience in the future, both in terms of new releases and existing online games.
PlayStation 4 is becoming history
One of the first concrete examples of this decision was HoYoverse’s Genshin Impact. The company announced that it would end support for the PlayStation 4 by 2026. Because Genshin Impact has a large number of active players, this move is seen as a symbolic beginning for the industry as a whole. According to the report, other major studios are preparing to follow suit.
There are two primary reasons behind this decision. First, the PS4’s hardware limitations. Next-generation games are straining the PS4’s capabilities in terms of graphics engines and processing power. Second, the changing market conditions.
Sony has sold more than 80 million PlayStation 5s worldwide to date. For developers, this offers the opportunity to develop for more powerful hardware without relying on the previous generation. The similar widespread adoption of the Xbox Series X/S is another factor accelerating the transition to the next generation.
The discontinuation of PS4 support, especially for online-based live service games, will directly impact player communities. Some games may experience consequences such as the shutdown of dedicated servers for this platform or the suspension of content updates.
Industry experts predict that both Sony and Microsoft could introduce next-generation consoles within the next few years. This could accelerate the complete phasing out of older-generation devices like the PS4. For the PlayStation 4, which was released in 2013 and has been in active use for nearly 12 years, this transition represents an inevitable end in terms of both technological evolution and consumer habits.
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