Development for the PS5 Pro began early, influenced by the success of the PS4 Pro, as noted by Hideaki Nishino, who mentioned a five-year project timeline. The PS5 Pro aims to avoid the typical decline in console sales after the first year, maintaining a 10-year generation cycle for PlayStation. Additionally, there are currently about ten adaptations of PlayStation licenses into films and series underway, including projects like “The Last of Us” and “Ghost of Tsushima.” The interview also touched on recent layoffs at PlayStation Studios, attributed to the need for sustainable resource management.
PS5 Pro Planned Early
In a rather smooth interview where the two executives mainly reiterated standard talking points without revealing much, a significant takeaway was the discussion on the development of the PS5 Pro. The decision to create a mid-generation console was logically made early on, taking into account the positive outcomes of the PS4 Pro.
This is why development on this machine began even before the standard PS5 was launched, with Hideaki Nishino mentioning a commitment of at least five years:
« We started working on the PS5 Pro before the PS5 itself launched. This was another project that we committed to over five years. We explored whether we wanted to create another Pro version or not. However, the real question was if we could develop technologies that would be relevant in three to five years. Innovations and technological advancements are accelerating in our modern world. Phones are updated annually, and so are PCs. While I don’t believe we will implement updates every year, there are certain aspects we can accumulate to integrate the best features into gaming consoles. This represents our vision. »
This console was also developed to prevent the usual drop in console sales after the first year—a phenomenon less observed with the Switch—to maintain an overall cycle of around ten years between PlayStation generations. Nishino emphasized that the PS5 Pro remains a part of the PS5 lineup and is simply « an option for consumers within this generation ».
A Dozen Adaptations Still in Development
Since it’s Variety, the interview naturally shifted towards the adaptations of PlayStation licenses into TV series or films. Here again, Hulst and Nishino didn’t disclose any major revelations other than stating that currently, there are about ten projects in progress:
« At PlayStation Productions, we are currently working on ten projects: The Last of Us, Twisted Metal, and several others that greatly excite us. I believe that in the future, we will become increasingly meticulous and rigorous within our franchises. We’re discussing adaptations, but the essence of it is to take the game and explore what else can be done with it. Effectively, we aim to build from the ground up—similar to our initial attempt with ‘Horizon,’ crafting this world and narrative—and asking ourselves how we can tell stories within this universe across different mediums. »
Apart from the mentioned projects, PlayStation is also developing a sequel to the film Uncharted, a Ghost of Tsushima film, and series adaptations of God of War (on Prime Video) and Horizon (on Netflix).
Addressing Organic Growth
However, it would not be right to wrap up this interview without addressing a sensitive topic: layoffs. Variety notes that the two CEOs were cautious as this interview took place just days before the announcement about the closure of Firewalk Studio and Neon Koi, and these aren’t the only layoffs occurring at PlayStation lately.
When this topic was brought up, Hulst unfortunately didn’t provide more than a familiar script often heard from companies like Embracer and Microsoft:
« It is our duty to reassess our resource planning and ensure we are managing a sustainable business. This responsibility is part of being a CEO. We never take this lightly because we know these individuals personally, along with their teams and workplace atmosphere, which matters to us. Yes, we have made some layoffs. However, it’s important to understand that on the content side, PlayStation Studios is now a significantly larger organization than in its earlier days. It has grown tremendously. It’s through organic growth that our existing teams have, I believe, recruited quite aggressively, alongside mergers and acquisitions. The organization is therefore much larger today than it was five years ago, for example. »
Just days after this statement, hundreds of employees from Firewalk and Neon Koi were laid off. Variety attempted to reach out to PlayStation for additional comments from Hulst regarding this matter, but without success.