Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida says Sony and Nintendo should keep the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 on the market "for many years to come" rather than rush into the next console generation. Speaking on The Vergecast in an episode released on September 28, 2026, Yoshida argued that players are happy, hardware keeps getting more expensive, and nobody is seriously asking for more power.
"People are very happy using PS5 and Switch 2"
Yoshida's core argument is simple: the current generation is doing its job. The PlayStation 5 is nearly six years old, and the Nintendo Switch 2 has been on sale since 2025 — but he believes both companies have sold enough hardware and should hold their nerve. "While Sony and Nintendo have sold enough numbers of current generation hardware, because of the cost of goods they might be looking [at] pushing back the launch of next gen," he said. "I think they should try to keep the current generation as long as possible, because I think people are very happy using PS5 and Switch 2."
Rising hardware costs are the real pressure
According to Yoshida, the biggest reason to delay new consoles is money, not performance. Component prices for consoles and gaming PCs have surged far faster than other forms of entertainment, and people have "finite budgets." He admitted he has personally held off replacing his own five-year-old gaming PC because of the price hikes. "People who have systems like PS5, Switch 2 or good enough PCs probably will be happy to play games on them, and not necessarily consider replacing them," he told The Verge.
Nobody is asking for more power — not even developers
Yoshida also pushed back on the idea that the industry needs faster hardware. "I don't think lots of people are asking for 'more power, we need more power'. Or even developers, I don't think developers are asking 'we need better hardware', or anything like that," he said. "So I think that means that the current generation, Sony and Nintendo, are going to do pretty well for many years to come, still." His prescription: invest in software libraries instead of new boxes.
Xbox is the exception
Yoshida drew a line between the market leaders and Xbox. He suggested Microsoft's push toward new hardware is driven by the Xbox Series X|S trailing Sony and Nintendo in install base — a different situation from the companies sitting on large, satisfied player bases. He was asked about reports of Xbox exploring a subscription-based model for its next system, codenamed Project Helix, to cover the cost of the hardware.
Takeaway: One of the most respected voices in gaming is betting against the traditional console cycle. If Yoshida is right, the PS5 and Switch 2 generation could stretch well beyond the usual six-to-seven years — and your next console purchase may not be on the calendar for a long time.
Watch: Shuhei Yoshida on the future of gaming — The Vergecast, September 28, 2026 (the full interview where Yoshida discusses the PS5, Switch 2 and next-gen console timing).
Sources: Nintendo Life — Former Sony Exec Shuhei Yoshida Thinks Nintendo Is "Going To Do Pretty Well" With Switch 2; Push Square — 'People Are Very Happy Using PS5'; VGChartz — Yoshida Says Sony and Nintendo Should Keep the Current Generation.