Sony’s love affair with the PlayStation 4 is finally running out of time. It’s been nearly twelve years since the PS4 first crashed onto the scene, but five years after the flashy PS5 took over, millions of gamers are still clinging to their old black box. Now, it looks like Sony is ready to pull the plug—slowly but surely—pushing the industry toward the inevitable PS6 era.
According to a leaked document obtained by gaming insider Tom Henderson, Sony will start cutting off certain PS4 features in Spring 2026. The alleged memo makes it clear: new PS4 game submissions after that date won’t be able to use a range of legacy features, including Activity Feed, User Storage, Shared Media Web API, and even word filters. Translation? The last-gen is finally being put out to pasture.
But why publishers can’t ignore PS4
But here’s the catch—publishers still can’t ignore the PS4. Thanks to the so-called “PS5 barrier”—the steep cost of upgrading—millions of gamers are priced out of next-gen. Capcom boss Haruhiro Tsujimoto didn’t mince words when he said buying a PS5, plus games and subscriptions, easily hits the equivalent of ¥100,000 ($650+), a price point that younger gamers simply can’t swallow. This is why blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty continue pumping out PS4 versions every single year.
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Leaks even suggest that big-name titles such as Resident Evil 9: Requiem and Monster Hunter Wilds could sneak onto PS4 after launch, just to scoop up extra sales. And while the Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly getting cross-platform attention, developers know the PS4’s massive player base is still too big to abandon overnight.
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Still, the writing is on the wall. Sony is trimming back support, forcing studios to embrace current-gen hardware. And while the PS5 Pro is just beginning its reign, whispers about the PS6 are already heating up, with insiders tipping a launch window between 2027 and 2028—and yes, supposedly with a much friendlier price tag.
So, enjoy your PS4 while you can. The end of an era is coming, and Sony wants everyone on the next train before the PS6 rolls into the station.
