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This coming fall, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), which had pinned hopes on the sales of the 'PlayStation 5 (PS5) Pro', faced the variable of the anticipated release delay of 'GTA6.' In contrast, Nintendo is gearing up for a comeback next month with the launch of the next-generation console 'Switch 2,' signaling expected changes in the landscape of the video game market.

According to a recent earnings report released by SIE on the 25th, cumulative sales of the PS5 reached 77.8 million units since its launch in November 2020. This figure is 1.2 million units lower than the sales of the PS4 during the same period. This year, PS5 shipments are also expected to be 15 million units, a decrease compared to last year's 18.5 million units.

Earlier, Sony launched the high-performance model 'PS5 Pro' in November of last year, but due to a lack of major titles, it couldn't generate the expected demand. The PS5 Pro boasts a performance boost of approximately 45% in GPU (graphics processing unit) capabilities, along with high specifications including a 2TB (terabyte) SSD, AI upscaling technology (PSSR), and Wi-Fi 7. The domestic selling price is set at about 1.1 million won. Industry experts point out, "No matter how high-end the hardware performance is, without accompanying exclusive titles that users can feel, the motivation for consumers to upgrade will inevitably diminish."

In particular, there are predictions that the release delay of GTA6 will affect this trend. Serkan Toto, CEO of the game consulting firm Kantan Games, noted in an interview with the U.S. game media VGC, "GTA6 was a driving force for console sales for Sony, but its cancellation for this year has become the biggest setback." David Cole, CEO of the market research firm DFC Intelligence, also analyzed, "GTA6 was a key title that would have prompted many users to upgrade from PS4 to PS5, and the release delay has made a decline in PS5 sales unavoidable."

GTA6, developed by Rockstar Games since 2020, was officially announced by Take-Two Interactive on the 15th to be delayed to May 26, 2026. Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two, stated, "This is the most ambitious and complex project in history," and added, "It is worth taking more time." GTA6 proved anticipation by surpassing 90 million views within two days of the trailer's release. If a launch within this year had been confirmed, it would have been a strong contender for the Game of the Year (GOTY) at the 2025 Game Awards, but major game companies are rapidly revising their fall release strategies, changing the market atmosphere significantly. Alternative candidates such as 'Monster Hunter Wiles,' 'Kingdom Come Deliverance 2,' 'Borderlands 4,' and 'Clair Obscur: 33 Expedition Team' are emerging.

Nintendo is set to launch the Switch 2 on the 5th of next month, marking its counterattack. According to the market research firm Counterpoint Research, as of 2023, Sony holds the top position in global console market share at 49%, followed by Nintendo at 37% and Microsoft (MS) Xbox at 14%.

The Switch 2 has enhanced performance with a 7.9-inch display, 256 gigabytes (GB) of storage, 4K output, and game chat features. It also supports backward compatibility with the existing Switch and is expected to launch simultaneously with popular titles such as 'Mario Kart World,' 'Hades 2,' and 'Borderlands 4.' The domestic suggested retail price is set at 648,000 won. In Japan, pre-orders are ongoing through a lottery sale, with some winners reselling the console at two to three times the price.

DFC Intelligence predicts that the Switch 2 will sell between 15 million and 17 million units in its first year and could potentially surpass cumulative sales of 80 million units by 2028. Nintendo is also planning to expand its market by hosting an experiential event for two days at KINTEX in Goyang starting the 31st.