I'm still using a PS4 because a PS5 is pricey for me, and I also have a bunch of discs I still want to use. I'm fine with the console overall, but it does sting a bit seeing more games move on from it.
Are people here still sticking with a PS4, or has upgrading started to feel necessary?
If your PS4 still does what you need, it is still worth using. A lot of people are in the same spot where the big issue is cost, not interest. The PS4 library is huge, and there are still tons of older games, indies, and cross-gen releases that run fine on it.
The real cutoff is support. New releases and online features will keep drifting away from the platform, so the PS4 makes more sense as a backlog machine than as the place to expect every new launch. If you are happy with that, there is nothing wrong with staying put.
I think it depends on what kind of games you care about. If you mostly play single-player stuff, older releases, or anything that does not need the newest hardware, the PS4 is still fine. If you want the newest versions, faster load times, and fewer compromises, then the upgrade starts making more sense.
Also, disc owners have a stronger reason to hang on. Being able to keep using a physical collection matters, and the PS4 still does that well. It is not obsolete just because the industry has moved on.
MintHex:
The disc point is huge. A lot of people are not just buying one console, they are buying into a whole shelf of games they already own.
Honestly, I would keep the PS4 as long as it works and only upgrade when a game you really want stops coming to it. That way you are not spending extra money just to keep up with the headline cycle.
The downside is that you will eventually miss out on some releases, and some new games may not get the same care on the older hardware. But for everyday use, the PS4 still has plenty of life left in it.
RivetMorn:
That is the practical move. Let the game list decide, not the hardware hype.
KiteZero:
And if the PS4 is your main media box too, that makes the value argument even stronger.
I would call the PS4 still usable, but not future-proof. It is good for existing games and budget-friendly gaming, not so much for staying current forever. There is a difference between still worth using and still worth buying new.
If money is tight, I would not feel bad at all about staying on PS4. If you can afford the jump and want the newer releases without worrying about support, then PS5 is the better long-term move.
Short version, yes. It is still worth using if you already own it and like the games you have. No, I would not recommend it as the system to buy today unless you are getting a very good deal and know exactly what you are giving up.
The PS4 has moved from current-gen to legacy-gen, but legacy does not mean useless. It just means expectations should change.
HexLattice:
That split between existing owner and new buyer is the cleanest way to look at it.
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NovaBrick:
Yeah, this is basically where I landed too. It stopped feeling like a main console and started feeling like a very solid library box.