Sony is Quietly Suggesting PS4 Players Upgrade to PS5 Consoles
Sony appears to be subtly encouraging PlayStation 4 users to move on to its newer PlayStation 5 console, as reports emerge of promotional system messages being sent directly to PS4 owners.
Images shared on social media show what looks like an official notification from PlayStation, urging users to explore current PlayStation 5 deals to avoid missing out on major game releases scheduled for 2026. The message highlights both recent titles from 2025 and a slate of upcoming games expected to be exclusive to newer hardware.
The timing of the message reflects a shifting landscape within Sony’s gaming ecosystem. As of mid-2024, the PlayStation user base was almost evenly split between PS4 and PS5 players, with tens of millions still relying on the PS4, first launched in 2013, as their primary console. However, with the PS5 now more than five years into its lifecycle, Sony appears keen to accelerate the transition.
The notification referenced popular recent releases such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, ARC Raiders, and Ghost of Yotei, while also pointing to highly anticipated 2026 titles including SAROS, 007 First Light, and Nioh 3. It described the current period as an ideal moment for players to upgrade their hardware.
While Sony has not formally announced a cut-off date for PS4 support, signs of a gradual phase-out are becoming more apparent. In October 2025, the company disclosed plans to disable certain PlayStation Network features for some PS4 titles beginning in 2026, signalling the start of a wind-down for the ageing platform.
Industry watchers say the messaging may be part of a broader effort to prepare players for the next era of PlayStation, as attention increasingly turns toward future hardware, including the eventual arrival of the PlayStation 6. For PS4 owners, the latest prompt could mark one of the clearest indications yet that Sony expects the long-running console generation to give way to its successor.
