Rumor: Sony’s PS6 Prioritizing a Highly Requested Fan Feature

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Rumor: Sony's PS6 Prioritizing a Highly Requested Fan Feature

Key Takeaways

  • Sony has locked down a deal with AMD to design and fabricate the PlayStation 6’s chip.
  • Backwards compatibility is reportedly a priority for Sony, so the PS6’s chipset may utilize the x86 architecture for full compatibility with PS4 and PS5.
  • The PS6 is rumored to launch in 2027-2028, but the PS5 Pro’s $700 price point has some fans concerned over the PS6’s cost.

As a longtime PlayStation enthusiast who’s seen the evolution of gaming consoles since the days of the original PlayStation, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension with the latest news about the PlayStation 6 (PS6). The partnership between Sony and AMD is certainly a promising move, considering their successful collaboration on the PS4 and PS5.

A recent report claims that Sony has sealed a contract with AMD for designing and manufacturing the chipset of what is tentatively known as the PlayStation 6. At this stage, details about the upcoming console are scarce. However, it seems that Sony opted to collaborate with AMD to preserve one of the PS5’s most appreciated aspects, which might have been at risk in the development of the PS6.

In the early 2010s, Sony collaborated with AMD to create an x86 processor similar to those used in PCs for the PlayStation 4 (PS4). This was a significant change from previous PlayStation models like the PS3, PS2, and PS1 which employed custom architectures that provided great potential but required extended development time. The PS3’s CELL architecture stands out as the most well-known example of this challenge, and it is why PS3 compatibility isn’t supported on the PS5. By contrast, the PS4 and PS5 offer a streamlined developer environment, making life easier for game studios.

Following the exceptional success of the PS4 for both Sony and AMD, they decided to prolong their partnership to design the chipset for the PS5. Since the current generation console shares the same x86 architecture as the PS4, the PS5 is almost completely compatible with its earlier version. This compatibility is expected to continue in the future, as Reuters states that Sony has agreed to have AMD create and manufacture the chipset for the PS6 in 2022. It’s worth noting that Intel and Broadcom were also considered for the PS6 contract; however, switching from AMD could have potentially jeopardized compatibility with past PlayStation consoles.

When is the PS6 Rumored to Release?

  • Either 2027 or 2028, possibly during the fall.

It’s rumored that Sony is focusing on making the PlayStation 6 (PS6) compatible with older PlayStation consoles, suggesting that it may continue to use an x86 architecture capable of running games from both the PS5 and PS4 generations. The key issue now is whether Sony can manage PS3 backwards compatibility on the PS6. Given that emulators for PS1, PS2, and PSP are already available on the PS5, the only remaining challenge is native emulation for PS3 games. With many excellent games still exclusive to the PS3, full backwards compatibility could significantly boost sales for the PS6.

Although an exact release date for the PS6 hasn’t been confirmed yet, hints from Microsoft’s legal dispute with Activision Blizzard and various rumors indicate that it might debut between 2027 and 2028. After the controversy sparked by the PS5 Pro’s $700 price tag, it will be intriguing to find out what Sony will set as the cost for the PS6. Some fans fear that the high price of the PS5 Pro may signal a similar expensive launch price for the PS6, potentially reaching or exceeding $700.

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2024-09-16 17:53