No doubt about it PS6 is already a real project in which Sony has been working for some time. The Japanese company always starts developing its next-gen console around the time it launches the current-gen model, and in many cases the R&D process starts much earlier, so this console should take at least two years to develop.

Obviously, we still don’t have official information about the PS6, but thanks to the complicated legal process that Microsoft is facing with the purchase of Activision Blizzard and all the documentation that has been submitted, we know that the launch of Sony’s next console could take place sometime in 2028. If we do the math, we can see that this makes sense, as it would leave the PS5 with a life cycle of 8 years before the launch of its successor.

It’s important to keep in mind that when a new console hits the market the end of the previous does not occur directly, We’ve already seen this with the PS4 and Xbox One, two consoles that are still alive despite the PS5 and Xbox Series XS coexisting with them for over two years. When the PS6 launches, we’ll be at least two years from the end of the PS5’s life cycle.

On the other hand, we’ve also seen rumors suggesting this Sony will not launch the PS5 Pro and that they will focus directly on the PS6. This has no official confirmation and is information that we have to take with a grain of salt, but given how slow this generation transition is and the greater balance of components that the PS5 has compared to the PS4, I think it deserves some credence.

Five things that should be true about the PS6

1.-It will use a new generation of APU based on AMD CPU and GPU

We can take it for granted that Sony will once again use an APU in the PS6 for two big reasons. The first is that this model is the most cost-effective for the Japanese company, because it allows the CPU and GPU to be integrated into one package, and on the other hand, it also allows the cooling system to be simplified.

It’s very easy to understand and is that buying and cooling two chips is not the same as having only one chip. Also mount the APU simplifies supplyand would allow Sony to negotiate a contract with more stable and interesting terms that would ultimately affect the final price of the console.

The PS6 APU should use an AMD CPU and GPU as that would ultimately be the best way to ensure Backward Compatibility altogether with previous generations, and also because of that would allow to have mature and stable development kits with less effort and investmentbecause much of the current work could be recycled and because the potential of the PS6 would be easier to optimally exploit in a shorter period of time.

Switching to a third-party CPU and GPU would only complicate things, and that The investment would not be worth it at all. that Sony would have to do it, so I’m pretty confident that the PS6 will repeat the use of AMD APUs. I dare not specify the generations of both, because we are still about five years away.

2.-Sony will continue to provide a choice between digital format or optical drive

Some believe that Sony will abandon the physical format with the PS6, but I honestly think that the Japanese company will continue to give the option to choose between it and the digital format. I am convinced of this because the world is not ready yet to limit the launch of a console as important as the PS6 to a digital format, and because in five years it will not change drastically.

still think that there are countries where the internet connection is so slow that it may take several days to download the gameand that stability and speed issues will significantly affect the user experience. For example, a console limited to digital format will not allow us to play a title we just bought if we suffer a drop or if our connection is not stable enough to download the game.

But with a console that integrates an optical drive we wouldn’t have that problem, we could insert the disc, finish installing the game and start enjoying it. Gaming without relying on an internet connection will continue to be essential on the PS6, which is why I feel so confident about this point.

However, it’s not clear to me what approach Sony will take, so I don’t know if they will resort to a modular PS6 with a removable optical drive, as they plan to do with the PS5, or if they will launch two models of said console, one with an optical drive and one without said component . However, I’m more inclined to the first optionbecause it allows you to unify and simplify production and reduce costs.

3.-PS6 will be backwards compatible with PS5 and PS4

We have already seen that with the PS5, Sony was about to make a serious mistake in this regard, and that thanks to Microsoft’s pressure with the Xbox Series X and Series S, which offer excellent backward compatibility with previous generations, the Japanese firm finally He had no choice but to retreat.

Backwards compatibility is very important because facilitates the phase of generational transitionand also encourages consumers who have a large catalog of games from their previous console to switch to the new console, knowing that they will be able to continue using those games and that they will have some technical improvement, be it higher resolution, shorter load times or greater continuity.

In the case of the PS6, the offer would be backwards compatibility with the PS5 it is essential that the console has good receptionand also to facilitate this transition phase, as we said, and I dare to add that Sony should also maintain backward compatibility with the PS4 to complete its proposal to offer users with its next-generation console.

I would take the liberty of making it backwards compatible with the PS5, although I have my doubts about the PS4. Note that in this sense it will also affect what Microsoft does with its next-generation console, i.e. the successor to the Xbox Series X and Series S.

4.-Better aesthetics and more discreet size

The design of the PS5 and its enormous size were widely criticized and caused a strong controversy, giving rise to many jokes and even “memes” in which Sony’s console was the subject of public ridicule. Personally, I have to say that I didn’t find the design to be a problem, although it is true that the console was too big.

It is very likely that Sony they internalized this criticismand that it took note of the shaping of the PS6 with a more careful design and a more compact line. We can’t predict anything concrete, but the final design of this new console should be based on a series of specific keys that will allow us to give it a few small brushstrokes:

• Smaller than PS5.
• More stylized lines.
• minimalistic design.

As with the current model, it would have a PS6 can be used both horizontally and verticallysomething that is more important than it seems, because it ultimately allows to better adapt to the needs and space of the user.

5.-Its price should be similar to PS5 at the time of launch

Price is one of the factors that most influences the success or failure of a console. I know it, you know it and Sony knows it too. Seeing the trend that the Japanese company is maintaining with their latest generation of consoles, I think that the price of the PS6 will eventually be similar to that of the PS5, although I’m sure it won’t be the same.

That’s what I mean most likely the price of the PS6 will end up being slightly higher than the price of the PS5 at the time of launch, although of course it will also depend on whether Sony ends up releasing two models, one with an optical drive and one without, or if they decide to launch a single model with a removable optical drive.

In the first case, I lean towards it PS6 price would be 600 euros with optical drive and 500 euros without optical drive, whereas in the latter case I think this single model should be in the 500 euro range. Keep in mind that this is a personal guess I made based on logic and the price history of Sony’s latest consoles.

While talking about this topic, we also have to mention an important detail and that is this the price of the next generation console from Microsoft will also affect the price of the PS6either for the better (decrease) or for the worse (increase).

Cover image: Sony PlayStations.