PlayStation 6: Everything We Know

The PlayStation 5 is still rocking our worlds, especially now that you can actually find one. But you know how it is – we’re always peeking over the horizon, wondering what’s next. And the big question buzzing around is: what’s the deal with the PlayStation 6? The hype train for the PS6 is already chugging along, even though we’re likely years away.

First things first, let’s get this out of the way: Sony hasn’t officially announced the PlayStation 6. Nope, not a peep. So, pretty much everything we’re going to talk about here comes from the rumors, industry whispers, leaks, and some speculations. So, while Sony keeps quiet, let’s dive into everything we know about the PS6.

Is there a PS6 coming out?

While Sony hasn’t made any official announcements about the PlayStation 6, the short answer is: yes, almost certainly. Following Sony’s historical pattern of releasing new consoles every six to seven years, and considering industry reports and even court documents from Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition pointing towards a 2028 launch window, a successor to the PS5 is widely expected. So, while we wait for the official word, all signs point to a PS6 on the horizon.

PlayStation 6 Features

So, what kind of power could the PlayStation 6 pack? One of the biggest clues comes from reports about its core chip. News outlet Reuters claimed AMD, the company that made the chip for the PS5, won a bid back in 2022 to design the chip for the PS6 too.

Why stick with AMD? The biggest reason seems to be backwards compatibility. Moving to a different chip designer, like Intel (who reportedly also bid), could make it difficult or expensive for the PS6 to play PS5 games. Keeping the architecture similar makes it much easier to ensure your existing game library works on the new console, something Sony knows players value highly.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) looks set to be a huge part of the PlayStation 6. We’re already seeing this with the PS5 Pro’s “PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution” (PSSR) technology, which uses AI to upscale images for better clarity. Sony calls the next step for this tech ‘the next evolution of PSSR’, hinting AI upscaling will be even more important for the PS6.

Sony and AMD are even working together on a specific AI research project called “Amethyst“. Led partly by PS5 architect Mark Cerny, this project aims to create better ways for consoles to handle machine learning, potentially boosting graphics and making advanced features like ray tracing more common.

Sony’s AI ambitions might go beyond just pretty pictures. They’ve filed patents for an AI system that uses a camera to watch your hand movements and predict your button presses before you make them. The idea is to reduce lag in online games, making them feel more responsive. Of course, the AI could sometimes guess wrong, and it’s still unclear if this tech is for PS5 updates or definitely the PS6.

PlayStation 5 vs PlayStation 6

To understand the jump to PlayStation 6, let’s quickly recap the PS5. Launched in 2020, the PS5 runs on a custom AMD Zen 2 CPU and an RDNA 2 GPU, backed by 16GB of fast GDDR6 memory. Its biggest innovation was the ultra-high-speed SSD (825GB initially, 5.5GB/s raw speed), slashing load times. It launched at $499 for the disc version and $399 for the digital edition.

Now, how might the PS6 improve on that? Based on the rumors and trends, we can speculate the PS6 will feature newer AMD CPU and GPU technology (perhaps successors to Zen and RDNA architectures). It might come with more or even faster RAM, and likely an even speedier custom SSD solution. A key difference could be dedicated hardware for AI processing, stemming from projects like Amethyst.

Feature-wise, the PS5 brought us 4K gaming at up to 120Hz, ray tracing support, Tempest 3D Audio, and the immersive DualSense controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. The hope for PS6 is to push these further: more games hitting high frame rates consistently at 4K, perhaps better 8K support, more advanced and widespread ray tracing, and new experiences powered by AI, like the potential input prediction or advanced PSSR upscaling.

PlayStation 6 Expected Release Date

When can we actually expect the PlayStation 6? Looking back, Sony usually releases a new PlayStation every six to seven years. The PS1 came in 1994/1995, PS2 in 2000, PS3 in 2006, PS4 in 2013, and PS5 in late 2020. Following this pattern, a PS6 launch might land somewhere between 2026 and 2027.

Interestingly, information surfaced during Microsoft’s legal battles over buying Activision Blizzard that points to a later date. Court documents revealed Microsoft expects the next generation of consoles, including the PS6, to launch around 2028. Many industry insiders are betting on 2028 as the safer bet. Notably, Shuhei Yoshida (via VentureBeat) – a 30-year PlayStation veteran who recently left Sony – suggested that 2027 “feels a bit too early” for the PS6 and that “if the next PlayStation comes out in 2028, that feels right to me.”

PS6 Price

Now for the big question: how much will the PS6 cost? The original PS5 launched at $499 for the disc version and $399 for the digital one. However, the PS5 Slim models saw a slight price adjustment, with the digital edition costing $449.99 and the disc version staying at $499.99. More recently, the high-performance PS5 Pro launched with a $699 price tag.

This PS5 Pro pricing has fueled speculation about the PS6. Several analysts believe Sony used the Pro’s price to gauge consumer willingness to pay more for high-end hardware. Trusted analysts suggest higher prices are likely for the next generation, with estimates often landing around the $600 mark.

However, some estimates go even higher, suggesting the PS6 could cost between $699 and $799 at launch, especially considering rising component costs by 2027–2028, and recent PS5 price increases in some regions outside the US. Some even speculate the PS5 Pro price might be conditioning consumers for a $700+ PS6. It’s important to remember this is all speculation; Sony hasn’t announced anything official.