The “PlayStation 6” is still desired and Sony does not seem to be in a hurry to lift the veil. While the PS5 is already 5 years old and the PS5 Pro was launched last September, the Japanese manufacturer has chosen to delay. During recent official financial communications, Sony insisted on one point: the current generation is still far from having said its last word.
The “PS6” not before… 2029?
A cautious strategy, shared by sector observers. In a study published on January 16 on the Sandstone Insights Japan site, David Gibson believes that Sony has every interest in extending the life cycle of its PS5. According to the analyst at MST Financial, the console would still benefit from a very high level of player engagement and should even “beat market expectations”. Rumors spoke of a release of the “PS6” in 2027? Gibson rather evokes a launch for 2028, or even 2029.
Until now, the Japanese giant renewed its consoles every six to seven years. But the context has changed. The arrival of the “Next-Gen” will be delayed by rising prices of materials, components (like RAM) and development costs, according to Gibson. Games now take more time (and money) to produce and the financial risks are higher than ever. Result: Sony would prefer to capitalize on an already well-established console, rather than launching an overly ambitious product too early. However, at the same time, the Japanese firm is already working on post-PS5.
Name the code: « Project Amethyst »
For several years, Sony has been working closely with AMD on the mysterious “Project Amethyst”, which is none other than the code name for the “PS6”. Last October, AMD confirmed that it had developed a brand new algorithm, capable of boosting the computing capacity of Sony’s future console. The objective would be to offer a machine managed by AI intended to compete with the most demanding standards on the market. But also to revolutionize the way we play, with great graphic and technological innovations in perspective.
According to a patent filed by Sony at the end of January, which recently leaked, the next “PS6” controller will be… without buttons. Everything will be based on an adaptive touch surface capable of modifying its interface depending on the game. A downright audacious idea, which fuels speculation around the “PS6”, even if Sony regularly files patents without necessarily transforming them into commercial products. While waiting for new leaks, or an official announcement, the “PS6” therefore remains a project in the background. The PS5 seems set to stay.
