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The release of a new PlayStation console is always exciting. And with the latest rumors from the tech community, we may get more information about the new generation of the popular console sooner this year.
In early 2024, we got the first clue about the new PlayStation variant when the Senior Vice President told the press that the team is looking forward to the latter stage of PS5s, which can be speculated as an indirect node to the PlayStation 6. So, we can expect that Sony is already working on the next rendition of the popular console.
While it is all speculation and rumors, you cannot blame one for being excited about PS6. In this article, we will discuss the expected release date, price, features, and more about PlayStation 6. So, will we get PlayStation 6 before GTA 6? Let’s explore.
PS6 Rumored Release Date
The PlayStation 5 gaming console has been an instant hit among the gaming community since its release. Sony has sold over 50 million units of PS5 so far and with the release of new variants, such as the PS5 Slim, PlayStation Portal, and the PS5 Pro, the numbers will only go high.
If you remember correctly, PS5 was released at the time of lockdown, and understandably, the production was limited at the time, which led to a limited availability of PS5 units at the initial stages. In those times, buying a PS5 needed enough luck on your side. It even got to a point where some people started selling PS5 at black markets at a marked-up price. Even though this might not be the case with PS6, the fans can’t wait to know its date.
Okay, to predict the future, let’s look at the past first. PlayStations usually have a lifespan of about 6-7 years. PlayStation 5 was released in 2020. So, a release date after 2027, is most plausible for PS6. So, we might get GTA 6 before PS6.
Also Read: How To Connect PS4 Controller To PC?
Is PlayStation 6 Coming Out in November 2027?
As we have mentioned above, Sony Vice President, Naomi Matsuoka gave a clue about the release of the PS6 and the end of the PS5 life cycle, on February 14, 2024. “Looking ahead, PS5 will enter the latter stage of its lifecycle”. She also added that Sony will be putting more emphasis on profitability and sales, and expressed that they are anticipating a fall in the annual sales pace of PS5 next fiscal year. So, this can be a direct indication of the PS6 release.
Analyzing the past iterations of PlayStation, Sony has always preferred the holiday season for the new releases. If the history is any indication of the upcoming release dates, you can speculate that Sony would pick November month for the release.
Now as we have stated above, PlayStation releases always had a six to seven years of life cycle, before the next major release came. Here are the historic release dates:
- PS1 – 1994
- PS2 – 2000
- PS3 – 2006
- PS4 – 2013
- PS5 – 2020
So, if Sony sticks to their past trends, we can expect the release of the PS6 later 2027 by November, or early 2028 by August. Another strong piece of evidence that supports this theory came from court documents, that indicated that Microsoft expects the PS5 to be in use till 2027. So, all the evidence indicates that we have about 3-4 years to get our hands on PS6.
Features and Specs to Expect in PlayStation 6
Technology is evolving rapidly, enhancing the capability of every device in your life. So, when PS6 hits the market, fans expect nothing less than a spectacular spec sheet with the seamless integration of innovative technologies. It is given that with each of the major releases of PlayStations, Sony tries to explore a new level of immersive gaming experience powered by a faster processor and more refined graphics capabilities.
Analyzing the current tech market, we can speculate that PS6 can have VR integrations, support for 8K videos, possibilities of faster cloud computing, and integrations of AI capabilities in some capacity. Let’s explore the possible features in detail:
VR Integration
VR (virtual reality) and XR (Extended Reality) technologies have been improving over the past few years. With the new prototypes introduced by Meta and Snapchat, that let you play games wearing their XR glasses, we can expect something in that weins with PS6. if Sony could integrate Disney’s omnidirectional treadmill prototype that lets you walk in any direction, it could be a literal game changer.
8K Video
While PS5 was originally claimed to support 8K, the label was later removed silently. Now, the 8K label is only associated with PS5 Pro variants that came a couple of months ago. So, we can speculate that Sony has finally cracked the code for supporting the 8K gaming experience for more life-like graphics. This means that PS6 will likely support 8K as well. 8K can be especially beneficial if you have larger screens for gaming.
Built-in Wireless Features
The PS5s are already capable of wireless internet connectivity, so it is a given that that will be also present in the PS6 as well. In addition to it, you can expect some other wireless features such as wireless charging, and an in-built wireless adapter for headsets. Either way, your console is always connected to a power outlet, so why not get the most out of it by adding a wireless charging station right into it? You can charge your phone, headset, and game controller by placing them on the designated wireless charging station on the console.
Updated User Interface
It is safe to believe that the UI will get a major update when the new device comes out. The developers will get the opportunity to make amendments to any features that need tweaking to offer an overall better experience for the users. This time, the developers may also take extra care in making the built-in web browser more user-friendly and accessible. The PlayStation Store may get an update as well, to make the navigation easier.
Shorter Design
While the tall design of PS5 has become iconic, it still is a bit difficult to find the perfect way to store them. The towering design of the PS5 is very noticeable, so the next rendition can be a bit shorter and wider. However, since the tall design has become an identity of PlayStation, we may get a similar design at the end.
SSD Storage
Solid State Drives or SSDs are much faster storage devices than the traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives. In comparison, the average data transmission rate of SSDs is 500-3,500+ MB/s, while hard disks average 30-150 MB/s. The PS5 already uses SSDs for higher read and write speeds. So, we can only expect that PS6 will also follow the same.
Custom AMD Chipset
According to rumors, Sony will continue to rely on AMD to produce the chipsets for the coming interactions of PlayStations as well. Intel has reportedly lost the bid for designing the PS6 chipset back in 2022 to AMD. Using AMD chipsets for the coming models would make cross-gaming and backward compatibility much easier.
Backward Compatibility
Backward compatibility as you may know is the ability of a new device to seamlessly run a software (games in this case) made for the older versions. So, backward compatibility is important especially if you own a good amount of games made for the previous versions of PlayStations. According to reports PS6 is rumored to support almost all of the games built for PS4 and PS5, letting you play your favorite games on the new console.
New Controller Features
The patent applications filed by Sony suggest that they are trying to implement more features to the controller. Some of the notable ideas that Sony is dabbling with include a controller that doubles as an earbud charging case and a controller with temperature-changing and deformable capabilities. However, it is too early to say that any of these patents may come to fruition.
Possibility of Two Models
According to some of the insider reports, Sony is working on creating two systems with the same chip. This may mean that Sony is cooking two different consoles as opposed to two variants of the same console. So, you may expect to see the release of PS6s of a higher-end version and an affordable version with less fancy specs. But speculations also suggest that it might be an indication of a hand-held system.
PS6 Expected Price
Sony has always used a competitive pricing strategy for the PlayStation models. The PS5 had a price tag of $399 – $499, which is comparable to Xbox consoles, which is the major competitor of PlayStation. So, we can assume that this will remain the same with PS6 as well. However, you have to factor in inflation, which could drive the price up.
Another major factor to consider about pricing is the release of PS5 Pro which went above the expected price range to a hefty $699.99. While Sony has defended this pricing time after time, some spectators argued that Sony is pushing the price range further to see to what extent they can push it, before releasing PS6. So, it is entirely possible to imagine that PS6 could cost about $699 to $799. However, since we do not have official announcements of the specs you can expect to see on PS6, it is not possible to get an accurate guess.
It is also possible that Sony will try workarounds for adding costly hardware by focusing more on game streaming, with the help of cloud computing possibilities. Reducing the hardware needed can reduce the cost per unit.
While building a more immersive experience for enthusiasts, Sony wouldn’t want to lose its mass appeal. So, another possibility is a two-device approach. Sony may release two different PS6 devices both with different capabilities, specs, and prices to appeal to all kinds of users. This way PlayStation will get into as many living rooms as possible.
Available Games On PS6
Reports from technical experts suggest that Sony has contracted AMD to manufacture PS6 chips. AMD is the same company that worked with PS5 and PS5 Pro. So, with the release of PS6, Sony is aiming to ensure backward compatibility. Meaning that at the very least, PS6 can support all the games designed for PS5s and PS5 Pros. Additionally, you can also guess that major titles will be released in the coming years including GTA 6 will be also available on PS6.
Here is the list of games that can be available to play on PS6:
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- God of War Ragnarok
- EA Sports FC 24
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare III
- Gran Turismo 7
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- The Last of Us Part I
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Street Fighter 6
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Can PS6 Revolutionize the Market?
It is always exciting when a gaming console tries to push the boundaries of immersive gaming. PS6 is rumored to have the most advanced technical enhancements with high processing power, faster read and write speeds, and better quality visual outputs. So, we can believe that PS6 can be a big hit similar to the PS5 release.
The speculated features of bringing advanced XR capabilities and an omnidirectional treadmill floor can create a revolutionary change in the gaming industry if executed right. The game developers get to build more life-like features into their games and the users will feel like they are literally in the virtual world.
However, technical prowess is not the only thing that will matter in this battle, PlayStation should also vary about the marketing aspects and the pricing of their consoles. Because no matter what the features are, if the users do not find their investment worthwhile, it could badly affect the sales. For example, if there is only a limited number of games that can fully utilize the advanced abilities then there aren’t enough perks for paying extra. So, Sony may have to strategically offer PS6 at a competitive price point to attract most users.
We should also address the competitors when analyzing the possible impact of PS6 in the market. The next generation of Xbox is also rumored to be released in 2026 or 2027. So, if the spec sheet and the price are comparable, it could affect the market share of PS6. However, the presence of exclusive games made for the respective consoles can lead to significant differences.
About Next Gen Xbox
Rumors have also started about the new major release of the Xbox console. According to various sources, in 2024, Xbox has a market share of 61.12% as opposed to the 30.65% of PlayStation. So, it is clear that in the gaming console world, the battle is predominantly between Xbox and PlayStation. So, when researching the possibilities of PS6, we should also look a bit into Xbox’s new rendition as well.
Potential Release Date of New Xbox
Similar to PlayStation, no official details are available about the release date so far. According to a court document that leaked online, Microsoft is planning for a 2028 release. It also reveals that they are going to heavily focus on “Cloud Hybrid” technology, machine learning, and AI with the next-generation Xbox. However, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spensor confirmed that some of the information in the leaked document is out of date.
Potential Specs of Next-Gen Xbox
While we do not have a clear clue about what to expect from the next major Xbox release, the Xbox president, Sarah Bond has revealed some exciting details. According to Bond, Xbox will have the largest technical leap you have seen in a hardware generation. So, Xbox fans expect nothing but the most innovative techs and a maxed-out spec sheet. However, Bond didn’t reveal much about how Microsoft is planning to achieve this big leap.
Xbox and Playstation Battle for Dominance
It is always healthy to have a market that has healthy competition, especially for the users. From the rumors, it seems like both Xbox and PlayStation would continue trying to do each other. One of the major perks of this healthy battle is that users can expect to see competitive pricing for the coming generation of these popular gaming consoles.
However, if the specs and technical aspects are comparable, then the battle would switch to exclusive titles. Both Microsoft and Sony will try their best to secure as many unique game titles as they can by partnering with popular developers.
Read More: Xbox Series X 2024: Price, Features, And Availability
Conclusion
PlayStation is a beloved gaming console that sells millions of units every year. According to the reports from Sony Executives, the latest model of PlayStation, the PS5 is entering the final half of its life cycle, meaning that Sony might already start working on the PlayStation 6. Meanwhile, we have not gotten any official conformations from Sony, there have been some clues so far regarding the release date, specifications, features, and pricing. With the rumors and speculations from somewhat trustworthy sources, we have guessed that you can expect PS6 to have a 2017 or 2018 release date, with a possible price tag of $399 – $499, and better specs than the last generation.
