By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 30 September 2026
In brief: the “problem” with the PS5 is that the PS4 didn’t want to move on. In May 2024, Sony said that half of active PlayStation players were still playing on PS4, which pushed publishers to release their games on both generations ("cross-gen" games). In 2025, PS5 overtook PS4 in the number of active players, and GTA VI, expected on 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series only, marks the real end of the cross-gen era.
What’s the problem with cross-gen games?
A cross-gen game is released both on the new generation of consoles (PS5, Xbox Series) and on the old one (PS4, Xbox One). For publishers, that makes sense: more players, more sales. But the game then has to run on hardware from 2013, which limits its technical ambitions, and players have fewer reasons to switch to the PS5.
This is what happened for years: FIFA then EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, Hogwarts Legacy or God of War Ragnarök were released on both PS4 and PS5. As a result, many players didn’t feel the need to change console.
The PS4 remained widely used long after the PS5 launched.
Sony’s figures
| Date | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | About 50% of monthly active players on PS4 and 50% on PS5 | Presentation by Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| May 2025 | PS5 overtakes PS4 in monthly active players, totalling 124 million | Presentation by Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| June 2025 | 19% of PS Plus subscribers still on PS4 | Sony, cited by TweakTown |
Sources: VGC (June 2025), TweakTown (June 2025).
2026: the end of the cross-gen era
Big games are slowly dropping the PS4. The symbol is GTA VI: expected on 19 November 2026, it releases only on PS5 and Xbox Series, with no PS4 version and, at launch, not on PC either. Publishers can finally design their games for current machines, with denser worlds and newer technologies.
And on PC?
Our take as builders: on PC, the question of generations doesn’t work in the same way. A PC evolves piece by piece, you swap the graphics card, add more RAM, without waiting for a new machine every seven years. And PC games adapt to your hardware through their settings, from entry-level PCs to 4K configurations. If you’re torn between a console and a PC, our comparison… Gaming PC or PS5 in 2026 …takes stock, and our article about the PS5 Pro details what the upgraded version brings.
Our PCs to switch to gaming on PC
Savannah PC: GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB
Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5060 Ti 8GB, 16GB DDR4 and 1TB SSD: to play in Full HD in ultra.
Rift PC: RX 9060 XT 16 GB
Ryzen 5 7500F or 7500X3D, RX 9060 XT 16 GB and DDR5: 1080p and 1440p, with 16 GB of video memory.
FAQ: PS5 and cross-gen games
What is a cross-gen game?
A game that releases on both the current console generation (PS5, Xbox Series) and the previous one (PS4, Xbox One).
How many players are still on PS4?
In May 2024, about half of active PlayStation players. In 2025, PS5 overtook the lead, and 19% of PS Plus subscribers were still on PS4, according to Sony.
Will GTA VI come to PS4?
No. GTA VI is expected on 19 November 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series only.
Will GTA VI come to PC?
No PC version has been announced for the launch of 19 November 2026.
PS5 or gaming PC in 2026?
It all depends on your games and your budget. A PC evolves piece by piece and adapts games to your hardware. Our comparison gaming PC or PS5 details both options.
