PlayStation 7 could be the console for the cloud era

PlayStation 7 is the future next next gen console whose development most likely started and will probably be primarily a cloud gaming console by the mid-2030s. Namely, the direction of the industry is becoming increasingly clear: physical media is slowly fading into the background, digital purchases are becoming the standard, and cloud gaming is increasingly ceasing to be just an addition for the most expensive subscriptions.

Sony is already testing the waters through PlayStation Plus Premium and PlayStation Portal. Selected PlayStation 5 games can be streamed without downloading, and the Portal has received cloud streaming support that turns it into a device less dependent on the console itself. This does not mean that PlayStation 7 will necessarily be a completely cloud console, but it means that Sony is building the infrastructure for a time when hardware will no longer be the sole center of the PlayStation experience.

The most realistic scenario is a hybrid model. PlayStation 7 could still be a powerful home console for local gaming, but with a much more aggressive cloud layer: instant game launches, playing your own digital library on multiple devices, less waiting for installations, and perhaps a greater emphasis on portable PlayStation devices.

The biggest challenges remain the same: stable internet connection, latency, service availability by regions, and the issue of ownership of digital games. If Sony wants cloud gaming to become an important part of PlayStation 7, it will have to convince players that it is not just about convenience, but also about a safe, long-term way to access the games they have purchased.