PS6 Hardware Contracted to AMD to Ensure Backward Compatibility with PS5

PS6 Hardware Contracted to AMD

PS6 hardware contracted to AMD is set to ensure backward compatibility with PS5 games. As Sony gears up for the PS6, the focus remains on maintaining game access for players. The partnership with AMD is pivotal in achieving this important feature.

Backward Compatibility with PS5 Software

With the PS5 Pro almost here, Sony is already working on the PS6 with AMD. While not much is known about the next-gen hardware, Sony is reportedly aiming to prioritize backward compatibility with PS5 software.

Despite the massive Nvidia lead on PC, PlayStation will not abandon AMD for the PS6 console. With the PS5 Pro specs using bespoke hardware to support PSSR for PS5 Pro-enhanced games, AMD finally has a true answer to Nvidia’s DLSS image reconstruction.

• AMD has landed the contract to develop the PS6 SoC.
• The SoC will include the console’s CPU, GPU, and machine learning blocks.
• Backward compatibility with all PS5 software is a major goal.

According to Reuters, AMD reportedly nabbed the contract back in 2022. Other companies, including Broadcom and Intel, also sought the PS6 contract. However, AMD's capability to create easy solutions for playing generations of PlayStation software won out.

Moving from AMD, which made the PlayStation 5 chip, to Intel would have risked backward compatibility. This was a pivotal discussion between Intel and Sony engineers. Ensuring backward compatibility with prior versions of PlayStation is a feature Sony often includes in new systems.

Half-a-Generation Away

PlayStation’s next console is set to be scheduled for release in 2028. Just a year longer than the PS4 generation, the new console will target better image reconstruction techniques, improved ray-tracing performance, and enhanced CPU speed.

However, concerns arise regarding the cost of the PlayStation 6, especially with many upset over the PS5 Pro price and the console’s lack of a disc drive. Nevertheless, as the current leader of the console market, PlayStation’s next console should sell no matter what.