Rumours pointed to 2028. This information has been confirmed by none other than Microsoft. It is precisely Sony’s major competitors who have revealed in the UK Competition Markets Authority dispute that both companies have been engaged in for several months over the purchase of Activision.
That year would be 2028, which makes sense, since by then the PS5 would have had a seven-year lifespan, which is roughly the period that both Sony and Microsoft typically use to update their consoles. Sony launched the PS1 in 1994, the PS2 in 2000, the PS3 in 2006, the PS4 in 2013, and the PS5 in 2020. For its part, Microsoft debuted the Xbox in 2001, the Xbox 360 in 2005, the Xbox One in 2013, and the Xbox Series S/X in 2020. In addition, in 2021, Sony announced a job vacancy that hinted at the development of a new console at its offices in Tokyo and San Mateo, with the aim of ‘exploring and developing prototypes of innovative technology and methods for implementing it in our platform and services
We have recently received more or less official confirmation of the launch period: as Hideaki Nishino, vice president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently stated, ‘the next PlayStation console will meet the established schedule.’ In other words, it is expected to arrive between 2027 and 2028.
However, beware, there is still room for other possibilities: during a presentation for investors, Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, reaffirmed his commitment to conventional hardware. ‘We are focused on discovering an innovative and optimised way for players to connect with our content and services,’ he said, emphasising that, for now, his vision for the future is focused on local gaming rather than the cloud, as that is what most players prefer.
So what about digital video game consoles?
That seemed to be the direction to take, and there was even speculation at the time that the PS4 and Xbox Series X/S could be the last physical consoles we would ever see. However, despite Xbox’s significant advances with its Game Pass cloud service, which are very encouraging in this regard, and despite Microsoft being a pioneer in taking a step forward, they have had no choice but to backtrack and admit that the time is not yet right. The Stadia fiasco has not helped to improve the outlook either, so everything points to us seeing at least one more generation of physical consoles.
How much will the PS6 cost?
This is one of the most confidential aspects of any new project, and there are no absolute certainties, nor can accurate guesses be made without knowing the technical specifications of the hardware. What can be said with some confidence is that, considering the upward trend in prices that consoles have experienced across different generations, unless there is a drastic and unexpected change in strategy, the cost of the PlayStation 6 will probably be equal to or higher than that of the PlayStation 5, hovering around 500 euros.
Some speculation also suggests the possibility of two different consoles, based on rumours that Sony is currently developing two systems on a chip. This could mean that we will see one console that is significantly more affordable than the other, similar to the Xbox Series X and Series S, or even go further: that Sony is working on a desktop console and, additionally, a portable console. It’s not a far-fetched idea: Microsoft has already expressed interest in exploring this direction in the future, motivated by the success of devices such as the Steam Deck.
What technical features will it have?
Technical specifications: According to an October 2024 leak shared by Chinese informant LiWeiTech, the PlayStation 6 will incorporate AMD’s innovative UDNA architecture for its graphics processing unit (GPU). This technology is the same as AMD plans to use in its upcoming line of Radeon 9000 graphics cards, scheduled for release in 2026. In addition, the possibility of a Zen 4 or Zen 5-based CPU was mentioned, without specifying which one will be chosen. According to these sources, the preference for AMD technology over Intel’s is intended to ensure backward compatibility, allowing users to enjoy games from previous generations without any problems.
Graphics breakthrough: Sony has announced a strategic alliance with AMD to improve the graphics quality of video games. This alliance is part of a project called the Opal Initiative, in which both companies have expressed their commitment to ‘redefining standards’ in terms of visual performance, with direct implications for hardware. In a post on X, Sarah Lin, director of AMD, highlighted the work of Alex Rivera, chief designer of Sony’s latest consoles, and emphasised that the Opal Initiative focuses on ‘revolutionary advances in graphics and gameplay powered by artificial intelligence’.
More compact design: The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have made it clear that achieving high technical performance usually involves large devices. However, the excessive dimensions of both consoles have not gone unnoticed and have been one of the most questioned points by users. Therefore, it would not be surprising if Sony sought to optimize the design of its next console to make it smaller and more manageable.
Strengthening PlayStation’s digital ecosystem: In other words, Sony has been developing a Game Pass-like offering for some time, focused on getting more out of its online services. This move began in June 2022 with the renewal of PlayStation Plus, and everything indicates that it will continue to be key to its future strategy.
Direct support for PlayStation VR2: This means the new console is expected to be fully compatible with the headset without requiring any additional accessories or external adapters.
Are there any games announced?
Although no one expected it… it happened. During the first State of Play of 2024, Hideo Kojima appeared at the end of the event to reveal that he will be returning to the action-espionage genre with a new title, tentatively titled PHYSINT. He described it as «the Metal Gear Solid of PlayStation 6.» True to form, Kojima stated that this project seeks to take digital entertainment to a new dimension and will mark the third original intellectual property developed by Kojima Productions. He explained that the game will be developed with cutting-edge technology and will feature top-level professionals from both the worlds of film and video game development. While it will be an interactive experience, Kojima stated that its narrative, aesthetics, cast, direction, sound design, and other aspects will be designed to deliver a work that blurs the lines between video games and cinema.