It has been exactly two and a half years since Microsoft and Sony launched their ninth generation of consoles with the Xbox series and PlayStation 5.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the supply constraints of both (especially the latter), it appears that they are not even halfway done, with the PS6 and next Xbox still several years away.

This is according to Microsoft itself, in court documents seen by IGN, which states that the "expected start date" for the next generation of consoles is 2028.

The court documents in question concern Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the ongoing controversy over what it would mean for the future of Call of Duty.

In specific documents, Microsoft claims that its 10-year commitment to provide continued access to the franchise will ensure that PlayStation gamers will continue to bleed on the virtual battlefield even after PS6 ships.

"This period will in any case exceed the start of the next generation of consoles (scheduled for 2028)," Microsoft wrote.

"Therefore, Call of Duty will be available on the successor PlayStation console if it is launched during the term of the agreement. The agreement also means that Call of Duty console games will be offered on the PlayStation as much as on the Xbox.

Of course, the PS6 release date is not up to Microsoft, but entirely up to Sony (even though rivals may influence that decision with less friendly competition).

Nevertheless, 2028 seems very likely for several reasons. In particular, the fact that Sony has stated in previous court documents that the next generation will not begin until after 2027.

More importantly, however, the PS5 and Xbox series will be eight years old by 2028, which is roughly in line with the expected lifespan of recent console generations: the PS4 and Xbox One were seven years old, while the PS3 and Xbox 360 were seven and eight years old respectively.

And there is reason to believe that the current generation of consoles may be on a longevity trend again this time around.

First, the Xbox series and PS5 consoles got off to a slow start due to the pandemic and the supply chain was severely constrained; it has only been in the last six months that the PS5 has been readily available in stores, and for most buyers, the hardware still feels brand new that it feels like new.

Second, both Sony and Microsoft have shown in the last generation that they are not afraid to revamp their hardware into more powerful configurations for serious gamers.

It is quite possible that the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro will be followed by powered-up versions of the Xbox Series X and PS5. And while the former is ruled out in the short term, the latter is said to be next year.

The only thing that suggests that Microsoft might accelerate the process is the very favorable Series S. Microsoft wants to make sure that everything designed for Series X is also playable in Series S, which could be a nasty millstone in the coming years.

In any case, the PS5 and Xbox Series X will not be replaced anytime soon. Those who are hesitant to upgrade from a PS4 or Xbox One because they are worried that they might be replaced soon can rest assured that they will be.