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The anticipation for the next generation of gaming consoles is building, even as the PlayStation 5 Pro has recently launched. While Sony has not yet officially announced the PlayStation 6 handheld, various leaks and rumours are starting to paint a picture of what players might expect from the console that will follow the PS5. Sources indicate that Sony is committed to the console market for the future, having already secured trademarks for PlayStation versions up through the PS10. The development of a new console by Sony was suggested by a job listing in 2021.
Release Window Speculation
Pinpointing an exact release date for the PS6 remains speculative, but several sources offer potential windows. Based on historical trends where PlayStation consoles launched roughly six to seven years apart (the PS4 arrived in 2013 and the PS5 in 2020), a similar cycle would suggest a release sometime around 2026 or 2027.
A Sony executive previously mentioned a six to seven-year platform cycle due to the rapid evolution of technology. Court documents from Microsoft’s acquisition of Blizzard Activision also suggested 2028 as the “expected starting point” for next-gen consoles. An ex-PlayStation boss also felt that a 2028 launch “feels right”. Regardless of the exact year, the PS6 is expected to arrive within proximity to the next Xbox console, as neither company is likely to let the other launch new hardware unopposed.
Rumoured Specs and Performance
Although the particulars are still pretty early on, credible rumors on the subject spin a tale of considerable development on the PS5. According to prominent leaks, Sony is still with AMD for the chip of the PS6. As reported by Reuters in September 2024, AMD had beaten Intel to the punch back in 2022 in this regard, for the sake of having parts develop with backward compatibility in mind.
According to leaks, the PS6 might use a custom AMD Zen 4 processor with as many as 12 cores and 16 threads running at 3.5 GHz. Performance-wise, it would make quite the jump relative to its elder sibling. Graphics-wise, one rumour points to a Radeon RDNA 3 GPU with 52 Compute Units (CUs) yielding 18 TFLOPS of power.
Yet another source mentions that AMD will be bringing in the new UDNA architecture, an offspring of CDNA (Instinct) and RDNA (Radeon) technologies, to power the PS6. The PS6 might support an AMD RDNA 4 GPU architecture. The console is rumoured to support 4K resolutions at 120 frames per second and possibly even 8K at 60 fps leap forward compared to the abilities mastered by consoles today. Ray tracing also promises to become cleaner and less hardware-intensive.
It is estimated that memory will have a 24 GHz boost clock speed of GDDR7 RAM. Storage is rumoured to involve a 2 TB SSD supporting PCIe 5.0 and NVMe, which are supposed to build on the PS5’s speedy loading times and allow faster data transfer rates. Such heightened speed may come in handy when loading scenes instantaneously in large open-world games and creating reasonably larger and more detailed game worlds for developers.
On a broader note, the Project Amethyst consortium spanning several years was said to be a cooperation between Sony and AMD aimed at developing AI and ML for gaming, which might be the backbone of the new PS6 features. AI rendering techniques like PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) for the upscaling of games were introduced in the PS5 Pro, while the PS6 could leverage such technologies for potentially achieving real 4K 60fps in AI/ML upscaling.
Backward Compatibility
Backward compatibility is a key consideration for the PS6. Sony has improved compatibility with the PS5, supporting a large catalogue of PS4 games. It is widely expected that the PS6 will enhance this, offering backward compatibility with PS5 games. The possibility of supporting an expanded library across previous generations, including PS4 games, is also mentioned, depending on how Sony executes the CPU architecture. The rumoured AMD partnership utilising the UDNA architecture, which may include hardware backward compatibility for GCN (the PS4’s architecture), could potentially make PS4 compatibility relatively seamless.
Design Innovations and Features
While official design details are non-existent, there is speculation on what the PS6 might look like. Concepts vary, from rugged and dark designs borrowing elements from Xbox consoles to more minimalistic approaches. However, Sony is expected to aim for a unique and iconic yet functional design. Given the PS5’s size was a point of discussion, a smaller design for the PS6 is hoped for. Features like removable plates on the PS5 have been successful, suggesting Sony might continue elements of customisability and accessory sales.
Beyond its core specs, the PS6 is speculated to include several new features. These could include:
- Built-in Wireless Charging: An area on the console or an arm to wirelessly charge accessories like headphones or controllers.
- Enhanced VR Integration: With Sony’s investment in PSVR2, the PS6 could feature dedicated hardware support for VR, integrating an even more advanced headset with higher resolution and refresh rates, building significantly on the PS4’s limited VR capabilities. Features like eye tracking and inside-out tracking are expected.
- Ultimate Backward Compatibility: The hope is for the PS6 to be compatible with games across older generations, potentially offering a versatile, one-stop gaming experience.
- Updated User Interface: A refreshed UI is likely, potentially with improvements to the PlayStation Store and easier access to features like a web browser.
- Modular Upgrades: A highly speculative wish is for the console to be broken into modular parts that could be upgraded over time, similar to a PC.
- Game Series Hubs: A suggestion is for Sony to make it easier to access and play games within a series in chronological order.
- Digital-Only Options: While an all-digital PS6 might be a letdown for physical media collectors, the trend towards digital sales and streaming suggests this is a possibility, perhaps with a separate disc drive accessory option. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden doesn’t believe Sony could “get away with” an all-digital console yet, citing the need for internet connections.
Controller innovations are also anticipated, building on the PS5’s DualSense. The PS6 controller could offer more nuanced haptic feedback and adaptive trigger resistance levels. Desired improvements include significantly better battery life (hoping for at least 15 hours) and the incorporation of Hall effect joysticks to prevent stick drift issues.
Pricing Expectations
Predicting the exact price of the PS6 is difficult, but indications suggest it will be more expensive than previous generations. The PS5 Pro’s launch price of $699 / £699 is seen as a significant increase over the base PS5 ($499 / £479.99 for the standard model) and potentially a precedent for the PS6. Analysts suggest that “higher pricing will likely have to be part of the equation” for the PS6, and that Sony may be “testing the waters” with the PS5 Pro’s price. Some speculation puts the PS6 price closer to $1,000. While this is subjective, the days of cheap consoles are likely behind us due to development, component, and supply chain costs.
A Dedicated PlayStation 6 Handheld?
One of the most intriguing and consistently appearing rumors is the development of a dedicated PlayStation handheld device to be released alongside the PlayStation 6. This handheld is reportedly tied to the PS6 architecture.
According to reputable leaker Kepler L2, this portable PS6 system would be powered by a 15-watt SOC (System on Chip) built on a 3nm process. While it would not be as powerful as the base PS5, it is said to be more powerful than the Xbox Series S. The SOC is designed to run at very low voltages and feature less than 40 compute units (likely less than the PS5’s 36 CUs). The performance is difficult to truly estimate due to the use of unreleased GPU architecture.
The PlayStation 6 is rumored to have controller support. pic.twitter.com/V9fkYhWJn9
— legit gaming leaks (@gaming_leaker) July 19, 2024
The goal for this handheld is the ability to run PlayStation 5 games natively. Leaks indicate it would have shader binary compatibility, allowing it to run previous generation games without developer intervention. However, performance may not be ideal without patches. A patch would likely be the “difference maker” in making a game more performative on the handheld. This contrasts with the PS Vita, which struggled with developer support due to the need for separate game versions. The rumoured PS6 handheld aims for near “complete cohesion” with the PS6 home console. The handheld could also potentially use the PS Portal streaming tech to remote play PlayStation 6 games from the console.
Challenges for the handheld include achieving good performance at a low 15-watt power target and dealing with memory bandwidth limitations. Battery life is also a key concern for any handheld device. The 3nm process and new GPU architecture are seen as crucial for achieving the targeted performance level. The idea of making this device viable for a mainstream price point, given potentially high component costs, is also a question.
The strategy of releasing a dedicated handheld alongside a home console is seen as an alternative approach to Nintendo’s hybrid Switch. It could also be Sony and Microsoft’s answer to the challenge of making traditional consoles significantly more powerful in ways noticeable to general consumers. Dedicated handhelds could potentially attract new audiences.
Some sources suggest that the existence of the Xbox Series S, a console designed for lower performance targets, might position Microsoft well, as their Series S versions of games could be “oven-ready” not only for their potential handheld but also for Sony’s. This raises the interesting possibility of older libraries becoming “next-gen handheld libraries,” extending the lifespan of ageing console generations. The scalability required for PC game releases also suggests that PS6 games might be designed to scale down enough to run on the portable.
Conclusion
In summary, while still years away, leaks and rumours point to the PlayStation 6 being a powerful evolution with significant advancements in processing, graphics, and storage, likely maintaining a partnership with AMD. Expect a focus on higher resolutions and frame rates, enhanced ray tracing, and AI/ML-powered features. Backward compatibility with PS5 games is highly probable, with potential support for PS4 games depending on architecture. Pricing is expected to be higher than in previous generations. Most notably, a dedicated PS6 handheld, more powerful than the Xbox Series S and capable of running PS5 games (likely with patches), appears to be a strong possibility, representing a key part of Sony’s future strategy.
This article first appeared on Techgenyz
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