Why the PS4 Will Outlive Its Official Support Cycle
The PlayStation 4 debuted all the way back in 2013, and so it’s no surprise to find Sony winding down support for a console that has long since been superseded. Even so, just because the official support has a hard limit, that doesn’t mean this particular piece of gaming hardware will immediately get consigned to the history books. In fact, there’s a strong argument for the PS4 being a console that will remain relevant and in use for many years to come.
Longevity doesn’t necessarily mean receiving new first-party games or major system updates, either. An older console can remain useful because of its existing game library, its community, secondary-market availability and features that continue to work independently of new releases. There are already plenty of things you can still do with your PS4, and several of them could remain relevant well beyond the console’s official support cycle.
Reason the PS4 can endure
Why it matters
Large physical game library
Owners can continue buying, collecting and playing existing disc releases without waiting for new games.
Huge existing user base
A large community gives older hardware more reason to remain in use and supported by enthusiasts.
Built-in web browser
Compatible web-based entertainment gives the console uses beyond native PS4 software.
Emulation and preservation
Emulation offers another route for preserving PS4 experiences as the original hardware ages.
PS5 compatibility
Many players can carry their PS4 libraries forward when moving to newer PlayStation hardware.
The Physical Media Selling Point
Sony’s recent, extremely controversial decision to put an end to releasing games on physical discs has caused plenty of players to look back at older generations of console hardware with renewed fondness. The PS4 in particular has an embarrassment of disc-based games available, with over 3,000 official releases over the course of its life.
So, when someone wants to go back and replay the classics or expand their existing library, they can just pick up a second-hand copy from their brick-and-mortar or online retailer of choice. PS5 owners won’t be so lucky, as the digital-only purchasing option that will apply going forward might one day render their library of games effectively inaccessible, paywalled behind either a new hardware purchase or an ongoing subscription to PS Plus, or both.
There’s a collecting aspect to this as well. As a console generation gets older, physical games can give owners something tangible that isn’t dependent on a title continuing to be listed on a digital storefront. Common games can also remain inexpensive on the second-hand market, while collectors can seek out special editions, exclusives and less common releases. That gives the PS4 library a life of its own, regardless of how much attention Sony continues to give the hardware.
The Fan Support
Close to 120 million PS4 consoles were sold worldwide, and the vast majority are still fully functional, so there’s a huge player base out there, and with that comes the potential for homebrew support and ongoing availability of online services that will persist even after Sony pulls the plug on its own servers.
The PS4’s built-in browser is another easily overlooked feature that can help extend the console’s usefulness. PS4Home has previously covered how to play web browser games with your PS4, and compatible web-based experiences aren’t necessarily dependent on a dedicated PS4 game or application continuing to receive updates. Where sites remain compatible with the console’s browser, owners can explore different forms of online entertainment, ranging from casual browser games to options such as gaming at Tikal Casino. It isn’t a replacement for the PS4’s native game library, of course, but it is another example of functionality that can give ageing hardware additional uses.
There’s also a broader preservation community surrounding successful consoles. Enthusiasts document repairs, maintain guides, experiment with software and find new ways to keep ageing systems operational. The larger the original audience for a console, the greater the incentive there is for that knowledge to remain available.
The Emulation Angle
In terms of preserving the experience of a console and its most important games, emulation has always been critical, from the earliest days of the industry. The PS4 already has emulation projects that make games playable on PC, and again, as time passes, the quality and consistency of this experience will only improve.
Emulation is particularly significant over the very long term. Original consoles eventually develop hardware faults, replacement components become harder to obtain and peripherals disappear from retailers. Preservation projects provide another means of keeping software accessible even when maintaining the original machine becomes increasingly impractical.
The PS5 Compatibility Advantage
Being able to run PS4 games on PS5 was a major selling point at launch, and remains so to this day. The fact that Sony has committed to keeping older games playable on newer consoles will hopefully transfer over to what comes next.
That compatibility also means the PS4 library doesn’t immediately become irrelevant when somebody upgrades their hardware. Players considering the move can check which PS4 games can be played on PS5 and continue using much of the collection they have already built rather than starting again from scratch.
Likewise, as the company continues to push for more digital downloads and cloud gaming, having the PS4 live on in some shape or form, even if the original hardware is no longer supported, is arguably inevitable. So fans can rest easy, and even revel in the idea that the end of disc-based game sales in the future will make the PS4 a desirable asset.
Ultimately, official support is only one measure of a console’s lifespan. The PS4 has a substantial physical library, an enormous existing audience, features that extend beyond traditional console games, an active preservation scene and a library that can continue onto newer hardware. Sony may eventually move on completely, but that doesn’t mean PS4 owners — or the wider gaming community — have to do the same.
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