Former PlayStation Chief Warns of $1,000 PS6 Price Issue

Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden doubts that players will want to pay $1,000 for the PS6 if the main selling point of the new console is simply another boost in power.

Speaking on The Expansion Pass podcast, former PlayStation head Shawn Layden noted that the industry has reached a point where increased performance may no longer be a sufficient argument for purchasing a new device.

I think we've reached a point where if all we're going to do is more ray tracing and more teraflops, I don't know that that is going to be enough of a pitch to make the consumer reach into their pocket and pull out $1,000. Has technology plateaued to a certain extent where just 'more, faster, prettier' is no longer the goal or something that matters?

Former PlayStation head warns of the issue with a $1,000 PS6 — Image source: Gamesradar

Layden compared the transition from the original PlayStation to PlayStation 2 to the move from VHS to DVD, noting that the difference was so noticeable that users did not want to return to the old technology.

Later on, we start hitting a plateau, and the curve doesn't grow as steeply anymore. And if people have to pay even more for a better experience when the improvement itself is really hard to notice… they might think twice about buying.

Layden is not claiming that the PS6 will actually cost $1,000.

Related articles