Ex-PlayStation boss says "true innovation" would be making a $300 console again
gamesradar.com39 points13 comments
Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden argues that Sony should prioritize affordability over greater technical power when developing the PS6. Past console generations brought striking advances, he says, such as the PS1-to-PS2 leap and the move from CDs to DVDs; even the network-connected PS4 launched at $399. By contrast, rumored PS6 improvements such as more ray tracing and teraflops may impress technology enthusiasts but offer little that most players can notice. Layden believes current hardware already has enough power to support the games people want.
He calls a roughly $300 console the kind of “true innovation” the industry needs, rather than a next-generation system priced as high as $1,200. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S prices have risen since launch, an unusual reversal that Layden says limits access for potential buyers who once joined late in a generation when consoles became cheaper. He links rising costs to a shortage of RAM, intensified by demand from AI data centers. Rather than iterating on performance, he recommends making the next system smaller and less expensive. The central point is that expanding the player base through accessible pricing would matter more than another power increase.
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