It seems we’ll be hearing more about the next-generation PlayStation sooner than expected. In early 2024, Sony’s Senior Vice President Naomi Matsuoka mentioned in an interview with Bloomberg, “Looking ahead, PS5 will enter the latter stage of its life cycle.” While Matsuoka didn’t explicitly confirm the PlayStation 6 is in development, it’s safe to assume that Sony is already laying the groundwork for their next console.
Although there are only rumors at this point, it’s never too early to start speculating about what the PS6 might offer. How will it stack up against the PS5? Will any of the current PS5 games make the leap to the PS6? And what about the upcoming PS5 titles—will they see a release on the new console too?
While nothing is officially confirmed yet, here’s a look at the potential future of PlayStation.
PS6 Release Date Speculation
The most significant hint about when the PS6 might launch points to 2027. This information comes from a Microsoft court document related to the Activision Blizzard acquisition. In it, Microsoft noted: “By the time SIE launched the next generation of its PlayStation console (which is likely to occur around [redacted]), it would have lost access to Call of Duty.” While the exact date is redacted, some have speculated that this aligns with Microsoft’s deal to keep Activision Blizzard titles on PlayStation until 2027. This suggests that the earliest possible release date for the PS6 could be late 2027.
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Looking at previous console cycles, this timeline seems reasonable. Both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 had life spans of seven years before being succeeded by their respective next-generation consoles. With the PS5 having launched in 2020, a 2027 release would fit the same pattern. While it’s not set in stone, late 2027 or beyond feels like a safe prediction for the PS6 release.
PlayStation 6 Price
It’s tough to predict the exact price of the PS6. There’s no official information on its specifications. However, if we look at historical pricing trends and rumored specs, we may have a hint. It’s likely the PS6 will launch at a price point of at least $500. Other rumors suggest it comes with a potential for a price tag closer to $600. This if especially if cutting-edge components are included.
PlayStation 6 Specs
Currently, there are few details on the PS6’s hardware. According to Moore’s Law is Dead, Sony is expected to continue its partnership with AMD, which has powered the PS5 and is anticipated to drive the PS5 Pro as well. This partnership would make backward compatibility easier, along with facilitating cross-generational game releases. The next generation of AMD chips is scheduled to debut in 2025, coinciding with the hardware inside the PS6.
We also expect the PS6 to feature a new SSD to further reduce load times, and it will likely offer at least 1TB of storage, especially if Sony opts for a digital-only version of the console.
PlayStation 6 Features
One rumored feature of the PS6, according to Insider Gaming, is something called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). This technology will allegedly allow games to run at 4K resolution at 120 frames per second (fps) or 8K at 60 fps. A scaled-down version of PSSR is reportedly being developed for the PS5 Pro. However it will be fully implemented in the PS6.
