It might feel like the PS5 arrived yesterday, but the five-year-old console is actually nearing the end of its lifecycle – and that means Sony is gearing up for the reveal of the next-gen PS6 behind closed doors.
Well, Sony’s plans have finally leaked and, if true, it could be a more ambitious upgrade than anyone expected.
According to YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead, the PS6 could offer a huge jump in performance while also featuring a brand-new handheld companion device. Could we finally see the revival of the beloved PSP? Only time will tell.
A way more powerful console… and a new handheld?
The YouTuber claims to have seen details from a leaked AMD presentation to Sony, which claimed that the company was aiming to offer up to three times the graphical power of the original PS5 while maintaining its current $499 price tag – in the US, anyway.
However, Sony’s ambitions don’t appear to stop at raw power. The leak also points towards a new PlayStation handheld, rumoured to launch alongside the PS6 when it eventually makes its debut.
Unlike the current PlayStation Portal handheld, which relies on cloud-based rendering, the upcoming device is said to be a ‘true companion’ to the main console, with local rendering capabilities alongside features such as a microSD card slot for expandable storage, an M.2 SSD for fast load times, a touchscreen, haptic vibration, dual microphones and a USB-C port that could also support video output.
This would put it closer to the likes of the Asus ROG Ally X, Steam Deck OLED and possibly even the Nintendo Switch 2, depending on the specifics of the handheld.
However, like the aforementioned competition, expect to pay a premium for the portable gaming experience, with the leaker suggesting a similar $400-500 price tag as the next-gen console.
It could be here relatively soon too
The leak also claims that both the PS6 and its unnamed handheld companion are set to go into production in mid-2027, with a potential release window sometime between the autumn of 2027 and early 2028.
Of course, Sony hasn’t confirmed any of these details, but the timing would line up with the typical PlayStation console lifecycle. There was a seven-year gap between the PS4 and PS5, and it looks like it’s very much the case here too.
While it is an exciting prospect, it’s worth taking this with a grain of salt. Even the leaker admitted that the information was sourced from an AMD presentation that took place back in 2023, so there’s every possibility that plans have changed since then.
Still, if true, Sony could be quietly prepping for one of its most ambitious console launches to date – one that not only triples the power of the already-impressive PS5, but one that also introduces a true handheld PlayStation console for a high-end on-the-go experience.
