PS6 Chip Design Enhances Backward Compatibility
- Sony chose AMD for the PlayStation 6 chip.
- Backward compatibility with PS5 influenced the decision.
- Intense bidding process in 2022.
- AMD's existing relationship with Sony helped.
- PS6 won't launch before 2028.
News Report: PlayStation 6's Chip Choice Will Help with Backward Compatibility
Competing Chip Maker Intel Reportedly Lost Out on the Valuable Next-Gen Contract
By Ethan Gach
Published Monday 9:50 AM
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According to a new report by Reuters, Sony has chosen AMD as the chip manufacturer for the PlayStation 6.
Concerns around backward compatibility with the PS5 were apparently one of the factors in the decision-making process.
Reuters reports via VGC that an intense bidding process for the PS6 contract was underway in 2022.
AMD eventually beat out competitors like Intel and Broadcom.
One of the issues at play was the profit margin that Intel wanted on each unit sold.
Another factor that helped AMD was the potential to limit issues around backward compatibility for the next-gen console.
AMD designed the CPU and GPU for both the PS4 and PS5.
This existing relationship likely contributed to the smooth transition between the two console generations.
PS5 owners gained access to thousands of games from the older console as soon as it launched.
A similar transition for the PS6 would ensure three generations of games and players' libraries potentially all available on one device.
In stark contrast, the PS3's unique cell processor made with IBM created problems for developers porting games to the console.
Sony has so far opted to make PS3 games available on the PS5 solely through cloud gaming on the most expensive Premium tier of PS Plus.
The PS4 console cycle lasted seven years, and the PS5 one could go on even longer.
Sony recently told investors that the current console was in the second half of its life.
In regulatory filings last year, the company suggested a PS6 wouldn't launch before 2028.
The PS5 Pro, coming in November for $700, could be the halfway point between the current generation and the release of a PS6.
Correction: 9/16/2024 4:37 PM ET
Fixed who Sony partnered with for the Cell processor.
