Yoshida urges Sony, Nintendo to extend console generation as Xbox looks ahead

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida says Sony and Nintendo should keep the current console generation going for as long as possible.

He said people are very happy using the PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch 2. He does not think many players or developers are asking for more powerful hardware, according to Video Games Chronicle.

Yoshida made the remarks in an interview with The Verge. The conversation took place on its Vergecast show, hosted by Sean Hollister, and focused on the future of gaming. Yoshida spent 31 years at Sony, a run that made him one of the most recognisable faces from the PlayStation side of the industry.

His case is practical. Sony and Nintendo have sold large numbers of current machines, and the cost of goods — what it costs to build and ship a console — could lead both to push back their next launches. A longer generation lets a company sell more software to an audience it already has. It also gives game makers more time on hardware they know well.

Xbox, he said, is in a different position. Its Xbox Series X and Series S continue to trail the PS5, which may give Microsoft more reason to press ahead with next-generation plans. Yoshida pointed to a plan for more powerful hardware that could also run PC games. That would change how players enter the Xbox ecosystem, the linked accounts, store and subscriptions around the console.

Power brings a price question. Yoshida suggested next-generation Xbox hardware under the Project Helix name, costing over US$1,000, could require a bundle worth US$300 to US$400 per year or US$50 per month if sold with services. That is his suggestion about how such a costly box might be sold, not a confirmed price.

For players, this means a possible split. Two makers stick with the consoles people already own. One explores an early, pricier leap.