PS6: when can we expect the PlayStation 6 and what do we want to see?
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The launch of the PS6 is highly anticipated, despite it only being three and a half years since the launch of the PS5. But just like most consoles, it's likely that Sony is looking ahead to the successor already.
We're unlikely to see another new, mainline PlayStation console for a few years yet, but that doesn't mean we can't fantasize about what we would like to see from the PS6 - or predict when we're likely to get our hands on it. After all, we know that Sony is already thinking about the future, having trademarked the PS6, PS7, PS8, PS9 and PS10 names.
In the meantime, Sony has released the PS5 Slim and could have a PS5 Pro model waiting in the wings, though when we'll get this potential more powerful rendition remains to be seen. Mid-generation hardware revisions are pretty common these days, after all.
Most likely to launch sometime during 2027 or beyond
Price could be upwards of $600 / ￡600
PS6 name has already been trademarked, as well as future generations
We think PS6 should focus on upgrades like true 4K 60fps, better storage and a more diverse software line-up at launch
PS6
So, while we're still enjoying the PS5 and the best PS5 games, we've gathered up everything we want to see from the PS6 and when we expect to get our hands on the next PlayStation.
PS6 release date: when do we expect it to launch?
The PS6 is likely to be a long way off. The PS5 released in November 2020, so it's unlikely Sony will consider releasing a brand new PlayStation for several years. Typically PlayStation consoles launch around six or seven years apart, with the PS4 arriving in 2013 and the PS5 following up in 2020.
In an interview with Game Informer, Sony's Executive VP of Hardware Engineering Masayasu Ito confirmed that the PS5 life cycle is expected to last about six or seven years, meaning we won't see the PS6 until at least 2026.
"Indeed, in the past, the cycle for a new platform was seven to 10 years, but in view of the very rapid development and evolution of technology, it's really a six to seven-year platform cycle," Masayasu said.
"Then we cannot fully catch up with the rapid development of the technology, therefore our thinking is that as far as a platform is concerned for the PS5, it’s a cycle of maybe six to seven years. But doing that, a platform lifecycle, we should be able to change the hardware itself and try to incorporate advancements in technology. That was the thinking behind it, and the test case of that thinking was the PS4 Pro that launched in the midway of the PS4 launch cycle."
PS6 price: how much will it cost?
Of course, we won't know how much the PS6 will cost until Sony reveals official details in the far future. But we can make some educated guesses right now.
Let's first look at the price of the PS5, Sony's current-generation console; particularly the PS5 Slim which has become the new standard. It's $499.99 / ￡479.99 / AU$799.95 for the physical version which includes a detachable disc drive. There's also a digital-only model sans the drive for $449.99 / ￡389.99 / AU$679.95. That's a fair markup from the PS4's launch price back in 2013, which was $399.99 / ￡349.99.
We think this trend is set to continue in line with inflation and growing costs for game development. As a result, we wouldn't be surprised to see the PS6 retail somewhere within that $600 / ￡600 area at launch. You might want to start saving now, then...
PS6: what we want to see
"The gaps between console releases get larger and larger with each passing generation. But on average, we tend to go six or seven years between each iteration. I fully expect this to be the case with the PS6, which I anticipate won't launch until 2027 at the very earliest. Though given the ballooning nature of video game budgets and development cycles, I have to wonder if PlayStation Studios won't have a solid PS6 launch line-up ready until 2028 or beyond.
"And a strong launch line-up is a must for PlayStation 6. PS5 did have a better roster than its predecessor, with exclusives like Demon's Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the pack-in Astro's Playroom providing plenty to play on day one. That said, I think Sony should really look to diversify its line-up for PS6, reintroducing some classic franchises like Sly Cooper, Twisted Metal and Jak and Daxter to really shake up that launch palette and get older Sony heads on board with the new machine.
"In terms of graphical prowess, we're already hitting diminishing returns with the leap in quality between PS4 and PS5 arguably being the smallest yet. As a result, I think Sony should focus on further refining what it has now. Swapping over to an SSD was one of the best changes the PS5 made. And for PS6, I'd like to see the system push for a cleaner 4K at higher framerates and potentially get game file sizes under control. We've steadily gotten used to games taking up 100-150GB worth of storage space; I wouldn't want to see 200GB and above become the norm especially for folks who can't afford lightning-fast internet."
-Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor, TechRadar Gaming
Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor for TechRadar Gaming
I'm TechRadar Gaming's Hardware Editor, and I've been part of the TechRadar team for more than three years. I'm particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR. I aim to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. And as for the games themselves, I'm especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
