The new generation of Sony PS6 gaming consoles is already looming on the horizon, and according to the latest information, a serious technological leap is expected compared to current models such as: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. After five years on the market, the current generation is entering a mature phase, while manufacturers are preparing for the next big cycle.
Microsoft has already confirmed the development of a new console under the code name Project Helix, while new information has now appeared about the successor to the Sony platform.
PS6 architecture: Zen 6 and RDNA 5
According to the first information, the new PlayStation 6 console is codenamed Orion and will use a processor based on a combination of AMD Zen 6 and AMD RDNA 5 architecture. The chip will reportedly be made in TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing process, with an area of around 280mm².
The processor part should use a configuration with 7 to 8 Zen 6c cores and two Zen 6 LP cores, which means a total of between 9 and 10 CPU cores depending on the final configuration.
The graphics part could have between 52 and 54 computing units (CU) with a working clock between 2.6 and 3 GHz. An L2 cache memory of 10 MB is planned, while the overall graphics performance could reach between 34 and 40 TFLOPS.
Ray tracing up to 10 times faster
Compared to the PlayStation 5, the new console could bring 2.5 to 3 times better performance in the classic, raster rendering gaming mode. However, the biggest jump is expected in ray tracing processing, where performance could be as much as 6 to 12 times higher.
This practically means that real progress in ray tracing performance could reach about 10 times better level compared to the current generation.
The console should use 160-bit GDDR7 memory with a bandwidth of around 640 GB/s and a capacity of 40 GB. Combined with AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 technology, overall gaming performance is expected to be 4 to 8 times higher than current models.
According to estimates, most games on this platform could run in 4K resolution at 120 fps without major problems.
As for market entry, according to available information, Sony has already reserved production capacity at TSMC, and the start of processor production is planned for the second quarter of next year. This opens the possibility that a new generation of consoles will be presented at the end of the same year.
With the expected increase in the price of memory and SSD devices, the new generation of consoles will almost certainly not be cheap, but it could bring the biggest jump in performance in the history of home gaming systems.