Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly considering a significant delay for the PlayStation 6, pushing its debut to 2028 or even 2029, according to people familiar with the company’s plans cited in a Bloomberg report. The shift stems from ongoing shortages of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) components, skyrocketing prices driven by artificial intelligence demand and a strategy to extend the PlayStation 5’s lifecycle.

A seven-year gap from the PS5’s November 2020 launch would traditionally point to a late 2027 release, aligning with patterns from PS4 (2013) to PS5. However, supply chain woes and strong PS5 sales—bolstered by the PS5 Pro’s November 2025 debut—have prompted Sony to reassess.

Bloomberg Report Details the Delay Factors Bloomberg’s sources indicate Sony executives are wary of launching an expensive next-gen console too soon. HBM memory, crucial for PS6’s targeted performance, faces deficits as AI data centers gobble up supply from manufacturers like Samsung and Micron. Prices have surged, potentially inflating the PS6’s retail cost beyond $700–$800, deterring mass adoption in a market still digesting PS5 Pro units priced at $699.

“Sony is now considering pushing back the debut of its next PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029,” the report states, marking a departure from earlier optimism. This aligns with analyst David Gibson’s January 2026 forecast from Macquarie, who pegged a “high likelihood” of post-2028 launch, citing Sony’s focus on PS5 longevity.

Sony has remained silent, but President Hiroki Totoki hinted at extended cycles during a February 2026 earnings call, noting PS5 sales exceeding 75 million units and robust software revenue.

Earlier 2027 Rumors Now in Doubt 2025 leaks fueled 2027 hype. In October, insider “Moores Law Is Dead” claimed PS6 production ramps mid-2027, with a Q4 launch. Reddit discussions and leakers like KeplerL2 echoed this, citing documents showing manufacturing timelines. However, recent X posts and analyst updates dismiss 2027 as unrealistic amid component crises.

Expected PS6 Features Amid Uncertainty Rumors persist on hardware. PS6 is tipped for AMD’s UDNA GPU architecture, Zen 5 CPU, 32GB GDDR7 RAM and ray-tracing prowess rivaling PCs. A dockable handheld variant—echoing PS Vita—surfaced in August 2025 leaks, potentially launching alongside. Pricing speculation: $599 base, per some insiders, half an expected next-gen Xbox.

Sony’s strategy emphasizes backward compatibility, PSSR upscaling (like PS5 Pro) and AI-driven features for 8K/120fps gaming.

Market and Competition Implications A 2028–2029 window gives PS5 more runway, with titles like GTA VI (2026) and potential exclusives sustaining demand. It also syncs with Nintendo’s Switch 2 (mid-2026) and Microsoft’s Xbox next-gen (2028?), per Bloomberg.

Critics argue delay risks losing ground to PC gaming and cloud services, but proponents see wisdom in avoiding a pricey launch during economic uncertainty.

Sony’s Broader Console Strategy Sony’s pivot reflects industry shifts. PS5 Pro’s success—over 5 million units sold by February 2026—proves mid-gen refreshes extend lifecycles. Handheld rumors suggest diversification, countering Steam Deck and ROG Ally.

Fan reactions on X and Reddit mix frustration and acceptance: “PS6 in 2029? PS5 Pro holds me over,” one user posted.

As rumors evolve, expect clarity at Sony’s February 26, 2026, investor day or Tokyo Game Show. For now, PS6’s horizon stretches further, prioritizing viability over speed.

Janus Henderson Investors exists to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals. Formed in 2017 from the merger between Janus Capital Group and Henderson Global Investors, we are committed to adding value through active management. For us, active is more than our investment approach – it is the way we translate ideas into action, how we communicate our views and the partnerships we build in order to create the best outcomes for clients. While our investment managers have the flexibility to follow approaches best suited to their areas of expertise, overall our people come together as a team. This is reflected in our Knowledge. Shared ethos, which informs the dialogue across the business and drives our commitment to empowering clients to make better investment and business decisions.www.janushenderson.com

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NFLX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

The Skinbiotherapeutics board has brought in advisers to carry out an investigation into matters relating to the former CEO’s conduct

Shares have tumbled by almost 70% in less than a week at listed Newcastle skincare firm Skinbiotherapeutics Plc after its board dropped revenue and profit expectations in the wake of an investigation into its former CEO.

Stuart Ashman – an experienced life sciences executive – was suspended by the Helix-based firm’s board following concerns about his conduct which led the company to bringing in advisers. He later resigned, with the launch of the investigation then announced to investors on the London Stock Exchange late last Friday.

Mr Ashman had led the business – which focuses on the microbiome to promote wound healing and reduce the risk of infection – since 2019, overseeing a period of significant growth. Since the investigation was set in motion shares at SkinBioTherapeutics, based at The Core at the Helix, have plummeted, from 19.52p on Thursday February 12, to 5.95p by mid-morning on Monday, February 13– a fall of 69% over the last five days.

In an update to shareholders, the AIM-listed firm said that over recent days, it has been “urgently conducting an investigation of the business” and that in light of the newly available information, the board “has reason to believe that the former CEO has misrepresented material information to the board and senior management, the company’s auditors and advisors”.

It said the former CEO was informed of the allegations on Sunday, February 15 and that the investigation is continuing, having reported findings so far to the company’s auditors. It said accrued royalty income was included in the audited FY25 accounts “due to a potential misrepresentation”, triggering the decision to “seek to reverse these sums from the Group FY25 accounts completely”.

The board said it expects to remove £770,000 in accrued royalty income from the accounts, “subject to confirmation by the company’s auditors”, but added that it is satisfied with the health of the business. As a result of the board’s investigation and the removal of the accrued royalty income, the board said it anticipates results for the year ended June 30 2026 will be significantly below current market expectations. Market expectations had been that revenue would reach £6.2m and adjusted Ebitda would be £700,000.

It stressed that following its initial findings the board concluded that contracts held with key partners and customers remain sound and that there is strong future potential of the SkinBiotix technology and the company’s strategy to develop products in skin care and skin health.

The market note said: “Information received late on Friday 13 February 2026 has cast significant doubt on the validity of the accrued royalty income recorded in the audited accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025 . The board currently expects that the FY25 accrued royalty income, which amounted to £0.77m, will be removed from the FY25 accounts, subject to confirmation by the company’s auditors.

“The board is confident, however, in the underlying financial health of the business due to its robust cash position (£2.92m as at 13 February 2026). Whilst the board believes this is an isolated incident, nevertheless, it has instigated a broader investigation to review all of the group’s businesses with respect to financial reporting and operations.”

The note added that Martin Hunt, non-executive chairman, has stepped into the executive chairman role temporarily.

It added: “The board investigation is confident in the quality of the management team, the future potential of the products and underlying businesses, all supported by a solid cash balance. The company’s search to find an interim CEO and to find a new, permanent CEO for the longer term is progressing and further announcements will be made in due course.”

Like this story? For more news from the tech sector, visit our dedicated page for the latest news and analysis here.

The consumer goods giant behind Imperial Leather and Sanctuary Spa is battling to win purchases on social commerce platforms alongside traditional retail

The company behind Imperial Leather and Sanctuary Spa has said that reaching consumers on platforms such as TikTok Shop was as crucial as Tesco, as the 142 year old business strives to compete with an emerging wave of social media-savvy brands.

Manchester-based PZ Cussons – the consumer goods giant that was established in 1884 and is responsible for a range of beauty, hygiene and baby products – said it had been investing more heavily in innovation and brand development.

Chief executive Jonathan Myers said the business has to “battle every day to win every purchase”.

“There’s hardly a store in the country that sells a washing and bathing product that doesn’t sell a PZ Cussons product,” he told the Press Association.

However, he said the company had been attempting to remain at the forefront of online shopping trends that many newer brands are capitalising on.

“If you look at the way that most of the insurgent brands are arriving, it’s through social media, and that blurs into e-commerce platforms, for example TikTok Shop,” he said.

“It’s about making sure that we’re present, that we’re growing fast, and that we’re stealing our share of purchases there, just as we would a Tesco Express down the street.”

TikTok Shop, the e-commerce division of the video-sharing social media platform where users can buy and sell products, has expanded rapidly over recent years.

Major retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s are now selling products on the marketplace alongside thousands of smaller businesses and brands. TikTok Shop recently announced it had ascended to the fourth-largest beauty retailer in the UK, as per data from NielsenIQ, with beauty sales on the platform skyrocketing by 60% year-on-year in 2025, driven by trends such as Korean skincare.

Mr Myers spotlighted PZ Cussons’s ventures in Indonesia – where it has been trialling new sales strategies, including a live-streaming channel from its factory.

He stated: “We run three shifts of live-streamers who are driving demand for our brands that is then fulfilled through marketplaces like TikTok Shop, and delivered on the back of a moped.”

TikTok sales in Indonesia have surged over 600%, where PZ Cussons currently operates a TikTok Shop.

The chief executive expressed he could “definitely see the rise of quick commerce” in urban areas of the UK, hastened by the “blurring” of social media and shopping channels.

Mr Myers emphasised there was no space for “complacency”, adding: “Competition is good because it keeps us on our toes.”

Michael Jordan, the six-time NBA champion and co-owner of 23XI Racing, added a new championship moment to his legendary resume on February 15, 2026, when driver Tyler Reddick won the 68th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Reddick’s last-lap surge past Chase Elliott gave Jordan his first victory in NASCAR’s premier event as a team owner, capping a chaotic, wreck-filled “Great American Race” and marking a redemption arc for both the driver and the organization.

Jordan, who turns 63 on February 17, 2026, was visibly emotional in Victory Lane, bear-hugging Reddick and jointly hoisting the Harley J. Earl Trophy with the 30-year-old Californian. “It feels like winning a championship, like a huge championship,” Jordan told reporters post-race, his voice cracking with excitement. The moment echoed his NBA glory days, but this time the celebration came on asphalt rather than hardwood.

Reddick, driving the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, led only the final lap in a race defined by strategy, survival and late chaos. He navigated two major multi-car wrecks on the closing circuits, including one that eliminated several contenders, then executed a bold outside-to-inside move to overtake Elliott as they crossed the line. Reddick finished ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski in a photo-finish that thrilled a packed grandstand.

The win was Reddick’s ninth career Cup Series victory in 219 starts and his first Daytona 500. It also marked the 10th triumph for 23XI Racing since its 2021 debut, co-owned by Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. “When you’re a Cup driver and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, you know it’s expected you win every single year,” Reddick said in his post-race interview with Fox Sports. “Last year was really hard for all of us. This means everything.”

The 2025 season had been winless for Reddick and frustrating for 23XI, compounded by ongoing legal battles with NASCAR over charter agreements (settled earlier in 2026). The Daytona triumph turned that page emphatically. Reddick, from Corning, California, praised his team’s preparation and his own instincts during the frantic finish: “It felt slow and smooth from my seat. I trusted what I saw and went for it.”

Jordan’s presence amplified the celebration. The NBA Hall of Famer, who has invested heavily in motorsports since retiring from basketball, watched from the pits and rushed to Victory Lane for the trophy hoist. Video footage showed him teary-eyed, sharing a quiet moment with Reddick before the crowd’s roar. “I love it. I absolutely love it,” Jordan told The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi. He later joked about needing a size-13 ring for his upcoming birthday.

The race itself was a classic superspeedway thriller. Multiple big wrecks thinned the field, with favorites like Kyle Larson and William Byron caught in incidents. Reddick stayed composed, conserving tires and fuel while positioning for the end. His move on the final lap avoided the chaos that claimed others, securing the win in dramatic fashion.

For 23XI Racing, the victory validates Jordan and Hamlin’s vision. The team, which fields cars for Reddick and Bubba Wallace (who finished 10th), has grown into a consistent contender. Hamlin, absent from the driver’s seat but integral as co-owner, celebrated from afar. The win boosts morale amid NASCAR’s evolving landscape, including charter stability and rising competition from manufacturers.

Post-race, Reddick dedicated the victory to his team and family, including his young son Beau, who joined the celebration. Jordan, ever the competitor, emphasized the shared joy: “This is what it’s about—building something special and winning big.” Social media exploded with clips of Jordan’s embrace and trophy lift, trending under hashtags like #MJDaytonaWin and #Reddick500.

As NASCAR’s season opener, the Daytona 500 win propels Reddick into title contention. For Jordan, it’s another ring in a collection that now spans basketball and auto racing. The 2026 campaign starts with momentum, proving that even legends find new ways to celebrate triumph.