Rumour: PS6 portable to be less powerful than PS5

TOKYO: Recent rumours regarding Sony’s next generation of consoles suggests that the Japanese company may be releasing two versions of the next PlayStation iteration. But unlike the PS5 generation, the difference will be greater than the inclusion or exclusion of a disk drive.

Sony may release a portable version of the PS6 along with the standard console. Rumours that Sony were returning to the handheld market first emerged last November, and stated that the new device would build upon the PlayStation Portal’s concept. However, they also stated that the device was still years away from release.

Now, rumours suggest that the portable device may launch alongside the standard PS6 as part of the next generation of consoles. The leak came from user KeplerL2 on NeoGaf, an online gaming forum. Kepler has previously leaked the specifications of the PlayStation 5 Pro and various AMD chips. Earlier this year, Kepler claimed that the design of the AMD chip that will power the PS6 is complete, and that manufacturing would begin near the end of the year. If true, this would likely set Sony up to release their next generation console in 2027.

Kepler claims that the portable version of the console will have a weaker, 15 watt SoC, or system on a chip, on 3nm. Even with less power, the console would still be competitive against the Nintendo Switch 2, which releases later this year and is said to have power comparable to a PS4 Pro.

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Sony are also no stranger to the world of handhelds, as their PlayStation Portable system sold over 80 million units during its lifetime. However, their second venture into the portable gaming market was less successful, as the PS Vita sold between 10 to 15 million.

The popularity of the Switch, which sold over 150 million units, making it the third highest selling console of all time, behind the Nintendo DS at two, and the PlayStation 2 at one. Its stunning success has showcased the demand for handheld devices and Sony now wants a piece of it. And they’re not the only ones, as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, said that the American company is also working on their own handheld device. Various handheld PC gaming devices have also been released in recent times, with the most popular being the Steam Deck from Valve Corporation.

However, it isn’t guaranteed that the Sony or Microsoft’s new handheld devices will see the same success that Nintendo has. The Switch provides users with a unique, never before seen, gaming experience that hasn’t been replicated by the other major gaming companies. Their hybrid model, which allows games to be played on the big screen, or portably on the go, makes the Switch a two in one device that is exactly what many in the market are looking for. Only time will tell if Sony and the PS6 portable offers an experience that can rival the ingenuity of the Switch.

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