Key Takeaways
- A credible hardware insider claims that the PS6 will utilize AMD’s upcoming UDNA GPU architecture.
- Sony is reportedly deciding between a Zen 4 or Zen 5 CPU for the PS6.
- The long-rumored new PlayStation handheld console will supposedly use AMD hardware as well, potentially launching alongside the PS6.
A reputable source has revealed some potential details about Sony’s next-generation lineup of PlayStation consoles. The alleged information mostly concerns the chip architectures that may be used for the PS6 and the new PlayStation handheld console that has been rumored for a while.
Now that the PS5 is in the second half of its lifecycle, Sony has likely begun development on its successor, the PS6. Rumors surrounding the next-generation console have already started cropping up in recent months, and educated estimates point to a 2028 release window for the PS6. However, Sony may have more exciting hardware in the works as well, with reports of a new PlayStation handheld console floating around for quite some time.
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Rumor: New PS6 Report Possibly Hints at PlayStation Handheld
A reliable insider makes an intriguing claim about the PS6’s development which implies the existence of a new PlayStation handheld console.
Another PS6 rumor has now joined the fray, this time from Chinese hardware insider zhangzhonghao. Over on the Chiphell forum, the insider provided some supposed insight into AMD’s future GPU architectures, claiming that the manufacturer will switch to the UDNA moniker after RDNA 4. The PS6’s GPU will apparently use AMD’s UDNA architecture, but the CPU architecture is currently undecided, with Sony going back and forth between Zen 4 and Zen 5. Considering the PS6 won’t launch before 2027/2028, though, these architectures run the risk of being outdated as AMD will likely have released Zen 6 CPUs by then.
Next-Gen PlayStation Handheld Console Will Supposedly Be Powered by AMD
The UDNA GPUs will reportedly leverage an ALU design that will bear similarities to GCN, a decade-old AMD architecture that was coincidentally used for the PS4’s GPU as well. The insider also claimed that UDNA GPUs are tentatively slated to enter mass production in 2026, which aligns with the PS6’s speculated 2028 release window. Lastly, the next-generation PlayStation handheld will allegedly use AMD hardware as well, but the insider provided no further information about this. AMD is currently preparing to release its Z2 Extreme chipset sometime in early 2025, which could offer a glimpse into the type of performance players could expect from the new PlayStation handheld.
Regardless, it seems increasingly probable that Sony’s next-generation family of PlayStation hardware will include a traditional home console, the PS6, and the highly-anticipated handheld device. Further leaks and rumors about these systems will likely come out as the current console generation inches closer to 2028. However, after the widespread sticker shock incurred by the PS5 Pro’s $700 price tag, it should be interesting to see which price brackets the PS6 and its rumored handheld sibling fall into.
PlayStation 5
Sony’s PlayStation 5 is part of the ninth console generation and debuted with a launch lineup that included Demon’s Souls and Astro’s Playroom. The console comes with a Blu-ray disc, although a digital-only edition is also available for a cheaper price.