Rumour: PS6 Could Span a Console and Handheld Device | Push Square

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It seems like we’re slowly reaching that point in the generation where PS6 speculation starts to pick up pace. Earlier this week a report from Reuters revealed Sony had explored a potential relationship with Intel to manufacture the chip for its next-gen console, but ultimately opted for AMD once again – with backwards compatibility being massively important to the manufacturer.

Now well-regarded tech leaker KeplerL2 has taken to the NeoGAF forums to report that two SoCs (or system-on-a-chips) are allegedly in-development for PlayStation’s next console. In a post, the snoopster said: “I don’t know if it’s an Xbox Series X|S situation or a home console and handheld.” It’s speculated that Microsoft is also planning console and handheld options for its future hardware.

We’ve been unable to verify the claims here, so they remain very much a rumour. It’s also worth noting that, while two chips may be being explored at the moment, there’s no guarantee they’ll both become commercial products by the time the PS6 launches in around 2027 or 2028.

Intel lost chip manufacturing contract

Still, there’s been a boom in handheld interest of late, with the Steam Deck driving enormous interest in enthusiast circles. While the console’s overall sales numbers aren’t particularly impressive in isolation, the ability to take your entire Steam library on the go has proven popular. Sony has also found success with its Remote Play portable PS Portal this year.

We suppose the idea here would be to release two pieces of hardware: a stationary console and a handheld, both of which would share the same library and run the same games at different specifications. Exactly how much these hypothetical devices would cost, and what kind of challenges they’d create for developers, remains to be seen.

We wouldn’t read too much into this for now, but it’s an interesting point of speculation. Would you be interested in a potential portable PS6? Are you worried about the idea of two hardware targets? And