As we approach the next generation of consoles, Sony will eventually have to address this topic as well, not just Microsoft with its Xbox Project Helix.
Although 2027 is approaching, Sony hasn’t officially mentioned the PlayStation 6 yet. Despite the silence on the topic, especially given the rising costs of components, analysts at Embracer Group believe the next-gen console could launch in 2028 or 2029. However, there’s a good chance these fears will prove unfounded based on Kepler_L2’s reaction. Kepler_L2 is a well-known AMD hardware leaker.
In response to a NeoGAF forum thread about the aforementioned analyst report, the leaker posted an animated GIF of Danny DeVito saying “Nope” from the TV series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, thereby unequivocally dismissing the possibility of such a significant delay. This isn’t the first time the leaker has suggested that a delay isn’t on the table regardless of current market conditions because AMD wouldn’t waste its resources validating a next-gen system if a delay were a real possibility. Although Kepler_L2 did not explicitly explain why the release of the PlayStation 6 isn’t being postponed, the insider strategically liked a post by another user, Bojji, who explained exactly why such a long delay makes no sense.
“Delaying the console when it’s basically done doesn’t make sense. They have TSMC contracts for APU production, and maybe even GDDR7 contracts with memory manufacturers. They’ve already spent a few hundred million on R&D. PlayStation 5 sales are slowing down, and there’s no guarantee that memory prices will drop between now and 2030. If they release it in 2027, they will sell several million units before 2030. When memory prices drop, they can lower the console’s price and gain massive market share on top of what they already sold. If you release it in 2030, there will be no sales. In 2030, memory prices could be lower, the same, or higher. You start from scratch” Bojji wrote.
Bojji echoes what another well-known insider, Moore’s Law Is Dead, noted in March. Since Sony secured its TSMC 3-nanometer manufacturing quota for the second quarter of 2027, a withdrawal now would not merely cause a minor delay, but Sony would also lose its priority manufacturing status, resulting in a much longer setback. Furthermore, Sony has experience launching consoles amid challenging market conditions. Therefore, launching the PlayStation 6 under the current component market situation would not be unprecedented for the company.
If the PlayStation 6 is released in 2027, Sony will likely plan the launch for November, as it has consistently used that month since the PlayStation 3. Perhaps we’re only a few months away from the official unveiling of the console, which is said to deliver a 4K, 120 FPS gaming experience with enhanced PSSR, or PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, and advanced ray tracing capabilities.
Source: WCCFTech, NeoGAF, NeoGAF
