Console launches used to be few and far between, but for this generation of hardware they just keep coming, albeit in smaller steps. We've had the PS4, PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro, Xbox One with Kinect (and without), followed by the Xbox One S, the forthcoming Xbox One X, and let's not forget the Nintendo Switch.

So what's next? Citing Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Patcher, Gaming Bolt says it's the PlayStation 5. But I'm sure most gamers will be glad to hear they have plenty of time to save up for Sony's next console.

Shawn Layden, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, recently confirmed to Golem.de that there will definitely be a PlayStation 5. It won't happen soon, but there will be one.

Patcher, who's well-known for his gaming predictions, believes Layden is being honest and that we will get another hardware generation from Sony rather than just rolling updates, such as the PS4 Pro presented. But he's been a little more specific with the launch timing. Patcher thinks the PS5 will launch in 2019.

His timing prediction isn't just pulled out of the air, it's linked to 4K TV sales. Patcher believes Sony will only launch the PS5 once the 4K TV market share reaches 50 percent in the US and 35 percent worldwide. That's most likely to happen in 2019, but could see the PS5 launch pushed back to 2020 depending on when it falls.

Patcher also believes Sony already knows what the next hardware cycle will be, that PS4 Pro and PS4 backward compatibility is assured, and that it will be all about 4K gaming. That last one is a given seeing as Microsoft is already pinning its hopes on 4K gaming for Xbox One X sales.

Launching in March 2020 sounds like the ideal time to me. The Xbox One X should be easy to beat on performance, there will be a good library of PS4 Pro games available, and Sony will have tens of millions more PS4/Pro owners to entice into upgrading knowing all their existing PS4 games will still work on the new machine.