The PS5 Pro hasn’t even been released yet, but we’re already hearing rumors about the next generation: the much-anticipated PS6, which isn’t expected to arrive before 2027. Although we don’t know how prices will change in the future, which are likely to rise, it looks like we might have a pleasant surprise. At least, that’s what Sony intends.
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According to a new report from Reuters, the upcoming PS6 will feature an AMD chip in the system, which is good news for gamers, at least on paper. The inclusion of an AMD chip could enable full backward compatibility, if Sony chooses, with the PS4, PS4 Pro, PS5, and PS5 Pro. In other words, the company might keep one of the features that has become essential for users today.
As Reuters points out, Sony and Intel were in discussions for Intel to win the contract to supply the main chip for the future PS6. However, at some point in 2022, Intel lost the contract to AMD. While the specifics are unclear, it seems likely that one of the issues between Intel and Sony involved negotiations over Intel’s share of the revenue from each processor used in the PS6.
PS6: Bad News for Intel, Good News for Users
In addition to the price dispute, Reuters highlights that backward compatibility is a major point of friction with Sony. Switching from AMD to Intel would mean losing backward compatibility with previous generations—something users have come to expect as a basic feature, especially in a market that is increasingly digital.
For Intel, which has lost the AI race and is gradually transitioning to ARM chips in the consumer market, Sony’s console business could have brought in around $30 billion over the course of a console generation, according to internal Intel projections cited by Reuters.
A long-term contract with a console manufacturer would be particularly valuable for a company like Intel. This is especially true as its main competitors are increasingly focusing on niche markets. With the rise of massive AI developments and the growing gaming market, which is dominated by NVIDIA, the future looks quite profitable for the chip industry, at least on paper.
However, what’s bad news for Intel could be good news for users, especially if Sony continues to offer backward compatibility on the PS6.
