PS6 (PlayStation 6): News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors

The current PlayStation arrived in 2020, but there’s never a wrong time to talk about what’s coming next. The PS6, though still several years away, will hopefully let you more easily expand the internal storage, be slimmer than the PS5, and (if we're allowed to dream) include enhancements like a wireless charging pad and modular upgrade capabilities.

When Will the PS6 Be Released?

There's been talk for years that we'll reach the end of the traditional game console. Could we see Sony downsize to a flash drive-like device that plugs into your TV, perhaps? Possibly. Let's assume that the PS6 is actually in the pipeline for now.

Sony has released a new PlayStation every several years. Since the PS3, Sony has provided a new console late in the year, so we expect the same for the PS6.

A Sony executive backs this release cycle:

Indeed, in the past, the cycle for a new platform was 7 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.

One indicator we'll see this console is that Sony has already secured the trademark for versions up through the PS10. This doesn't prove anything, of course, but it does hint at a future of some kind.

Another signaling event is the relationship between when Sony begins developing a new PlayStation versus when it actually arrives. We shouldn't take this as proof, but it's interesting to consider:

• PS4's development started in 2008, and then it was released five years later.
• PS5's development started in 2015, and then it was released five years later.
• Based on a 2021 job listing from Sony that suggests the development of a new console, we can assume that the PS6 release date will be around 2026.

In the meantime, if Sony follows the PS4's release schedule, we’ll see a PS5 Pro before the PS6.

PS6 Price Rumors

The last few consoles launched between $400 and $500. There’s no telling what kind of hardware, extra features, or improvements the next-gen PlayStation could have that would sway its price one way or the other.

For now, assume it could cost as much as $600.

Pre-Order Information

Pre-orders will start sometime after the console's official announcement from Sony, and will be available through the official PlayStation website. We'll let you know what to expect when that time comes.

PS6 Features

Any details at this stage are simply hopes and wishes. However, we can surmise some features somewhat accurately because things constantly change with new iterations of a game console. Just don't take anything too seriously yet.

• Built-in wireless: Modern PlayStations already connect to the internet wirelessly, but what we're referring to here is an area at the top of the console, or maybe through an arm slide out, that can charge accessories. Put your phone on it, or your headphones or other device that supports wireless charging. It might look weird at first, but leveraging the PS6's always-plugged-in state to charge your everyday products (and PS6 controller) would be great. Include the headset's wireless adapter in the console, and you'll be able to ditch both the DualSense charging station and wireless USB dongle.
• VR integration: This is where gaming is going. Right now, we have separate devices we have to buy to hook up to our existing computers and consoles to benefit from virtual reality games. Maybe the PS6 is when Sony will lump motion controllers and headsets into the same box as the console. You never know!
• Ultimate backwards compatibility: We want to buy a game and know that we can play it for a long time. The PS6 should be backwards compatible with older console games, ideally as far back as possible.
• Updated user interface: It's not uncommon to see a refreshed UI with a new version of any tech, especially when dealing with a console that has a cycle of half a decade. The PlayStation Store will get an update, hopefully with better ways to navigate. Maybe this will include easier access to the built-in web browser seen in older PS consoles (it's in the PS5, but it's not easy to find).
• Storage enhancements: If the internal hard drive isn't large enough for your needs, expanding the PS5 storage is possible, but not easy. We're hoping Sony makes the internals of the PS6 more accessible, so swapping out the hard drive for something more significant is easier, like through a plug-and-go model. Sure, you could use an external drive, but you won't get anything near the read speeds you're used to with the internal NVMe SSD. If not a new way to upgrade the drive, a bigger SSD would suffice for most people.
• Smaller design: The PS5 is tall. Depending on where it's at in the room, you and anyone who glances over it are fully aware it's there. And maybe you like that, but if not, a smaller console is in store. Hopefully, the PS6 downsizes a bit—and it probably will. At the least, we don't expect an even bigger one, so hopefully it will simply fit with your other items better.
• Modular upgrades: Breaking the PlayStation down into smaller parts would mean each piece, when an upgrade is wanted or necessary, could be exchanged for a newer one. Much like a standard PC, you could build on the console over the years as hardware improves, without buying everything new every few years. Will this happen with the PS6? We can only hope. There's zero reason to believe we'll see it anytime soon, but we can hope. Right?
• Game series hubs: Playing a series in order is an unnecessary headache. As suggested by Tom's Guide, Sony needs to make it easier for players to buy a whole set of games that are in the same series. Or at the very least, provide the series order in an easy-to-understand list so you can find where you're at in the mix of remakes and re-releases.
• Digital-only console: Akin to phones without a charging port or headphone jack, disc-less consoles (think PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S) aren't for everyone, but we might be moving in that direction. If you like to collect physical games and movies, you wouldn't be happy with a PS6 that lacks disc support, but with faster internet speeds and an apparent move toward everything streaming, it would make sense to, at least one day, remove the disc drive altogether.

PS6 Specs and Hardware

The PlayStation 6 will surely improve in more ways than the features listed above, but since we're still years out from launch, it's not very helpful right now to guess what kind of hardware will be available.

In general, though, expect a PlayStation with an even faster, more capable CPU and more responsive controls. It's not official, but here's one PS6 leak we've seen regarding the chip:

Sony will continue its partnership with AMD to power the PS6 and PS5 Pro. The chip will boast a speculated 4K at 120fps and 8K at 60fps gaming experience, sources said.

An entirely made-up, just-for-fun concept video released by DZ Migo is one perspective of the console in terms of design. Similarly to the creator's other far-out concepts, it shows the PS6 as rugged and dark, with elements presumably taken from various versions of the Xbox, starkly different from the PS5. There's another entirely different render of the PS6 here.

Then again, Sony could go the complete opposite direction and choose something minimalistic, borrowing design aspects from older consoles. At least, that's the idea with this PS6 concept from Yanko Design.

We'll know more about the console's design, games, backward compatibility, controller and headset, and more hardware details as we get closer to launch.

The Latest News About the PS6

You can get more gaming news from Lifewire. Here are some of the latest stories related to the PlayStation 6: