All the Scoop on PlayStation 6 and the Buzz about its Portable Version
The two giants of the console world, Sony and Microsoft, have taken almost a decade, but they finally seem to be learning from the past. Portable consoles are all the rage, and all signs point to Sony envisioning their next big release as a completely portable one. The real mystery is what it will be called and whether it will be launched alongside a new generation of consoles, namely the PlayStation 6.
What’s in the Works?
At the end of last year, Bloomberg reported that Sony is working on a portable gaming console. While there are no concrete details beyond the promise that it could be able to run PlayStation 5 games, it’s enough to spark the imagination. However, there’s still no indication of when we’ll see this device in action or if it will coexist with a PlayStation 6. Meanwhile, Microsoft has not officially announced a portable Xbox console, but reports suggest they are collaborating with Asus to launch one this year. In fact, Asus’ Republic of Gamers brand and Xbox have already fueled rumors with teasers.
What to Expect
It’s practically a given that Sony will continue to partner with AMD for the PS6 (and any portable version). Mark Cerny, the lead designer of PlayStation, stated that the company will likely use AMD’s FSR 4 technology in future consoles. This upscaling technology enhances low-resolution images to higher resolutions using AI algorithms, maintaining the original frame rate. FSR 4 has proven successful in AMD’s latest graphics cards and would be valuable in a portable console to deliver consistent performance comparable to a traditional console.
KeplerL2 hinted that the next console would have “binary shader compatibility,” meaning games would work seamlessly on the new portable device. They also mentioned a 3nm chip running at a 15W TDP, which would provide relatively low power consumption similar to the Steam Deck. AMD is a key player in gaming laptops and has announced new processors for this year. Until we know more about the PS6 performance, it’s hard to speculate on the price. A portable PlayStation would need to outperform a $450 Switch 2, which is expected to match a PS4’s performance.
In essence, Sony might have all the pieces ready to offer a portable console much sooner than 2027, especially with the gaming industry’s shift towards more portable consoles. Perhaps a traditional PlayStation 6 won’t even be necessary in the future.
