Sony’s PS6 Leaks: Dual Console Strategy and Portable Ambitions Emerge
Next-gen PlayStation could launch with a handheld companion.
Speculation about Sony’s PlayStation 6 successor is intensifying, with recent leaks suggesting a dual-pronged strategy for the next console generation. A departure from recent cycles, the PS6 may be accompanied by a dedicated portable device.
“Orion” Console Specs Hint at Lower Price Point
The flagship PS6, codenamed “Orion,” is reportedly being designed with cost-consciousness in mind, potentially aiming for a price below the current PS5 Pro. This strategy mirrors Sony’s approach with the PS4, which helped it capture a larger market share.
The console is anticipated to maintain backward compatibility with PS5 and PS4 titles, though PS3 support remains unconfirmed. Early technical projections indicate an AMD Zen 6 CPU architecture, possibly leveraging TSMC’s 3nm or 2nm process. The GPU is expected to feature between 40 and 48 RDNA 5 compute units operating at over 3 GHz, promising a significant leap in rasterization and ray tracing performance compared to the PS5.
“Canis” Portable Aims to Challenge Handheld Market
Complementing the home console, Sony is rumored to be developing a portable PlayStation, codenamed “Canis.” This device would feature native support for PS5 and PS4 games and include modern amenities like an M.2 SSD slot, haptic feedback, and a touchscreen. Connectivity options are expected to include USB-C for external display output.
The portable console is envisioned with a 3nm chip, featuring four Zen 6C CPU cores and an RDNA 5 GPU with 12 to 20 compute units. This configuration aims to deliver performance roughly double that of the PS5, positioning it as a strong contender in the growing handheld gaming market. For context, the global handheld gaming market is projected to reach $20.3 billion by 2028, according to Statista.
Release Window and Strategic Considerations
Industry observers anticipate a potential release for the PS6 in Fall 2027, aligning with the typical seven-year console cycle following the PS5’s 2020 launch. A slight delay into early 2028 is also a possibility, contingent on production and supply chain readiness.
Sources suggest that Sony is weighing architectural decisions for the PS6, with AMD reportedly advocating for an approach similar to the next-generation Xbox. This potential collaboration could lead to greater cross-platform compatibility and shared development efficiencies.
These insights originate from the YouTube channel *Moore’s Law Is Dead*, a source often credited with accurate technical previews of upcoming hardware from companies like Nintendo, NVIDIA, and AMD. While not every detail is guaranteed, the consistent accuracy of past predictions lends significant credibility to these PS6 revelations.