Big oof at those specs if that's what they're actually aiming for. A little while ago I did think a PS6 could basically be a PS5 Pro with a stronger emphasis on AI-accelerated ML and image upscaling to "do more with less", but an approach like that can only work if:
1: Sony's 1P internal AAA production pipeline significantly improves to increase generational throughput. I.e 3-4 year dev cycles have to return for AAA non-GAAS.
2: They NEED more AA internal 1P titles to fill out the pipeline, with 2-3 year development pipelines
3: They NEED to pivot back to pushing genuine exclusives
That's the only way a PS6 with those specs can actually do well in the market with a 2027/2028 launch. Otherwise, while I wouldn't say it's DOA...it's gonna struggle
heavily to get early adopters, who are drawn to power & exclusives; the latter is something SIE seem to be gradually moving away from anyhow, but a PS6 with these specs suggests they're shifting away from the former, too. And the reason I stressed 1P internal exclusives is because that's the only way they would be able to get meaningful 3P exclusives in the future. Otherwise, no 3P is going to do for PS what SIE won't do themselves.
Now there's only one other way a PS6 with those specs could be something worth putting out in 2027/2028: they're back in with VR/MR and are finally going to make it a default part of the console experience. I've lost hope in SIE going that path given how poorly PSVR2 has performed, but its problems could've been mostly solved if the hardware was scalable for different pricing structures. The lack of a $199 or even $149 PSVR2 "entry level" headset was a massive fail...maybe SIE realize that and are doing such w/ PS6 while also packing it in as a standard option in all SKUs?
That'd be my ideal, personally; it'd give some
actual opportunities for innovation and unique features not just for the games but also for the system itself, especially if it could handle multiple headsets simultaneously through local play. And wireless as an option, of course. That combined with some changes to PS+ and the store, and some basic things like not hiding the web browser, and they might just have a system worth buying even if they did start pushing their games to other platforms. Though, that only matters if the games still take full advantage of their own hardware, so they'll have to set aside enough greed to forgo Day 1 for most of the non-GAAS.
Those are the only two options a PS6 with these leaked specs has in order to be a worthwhile products IMHO, preferably a combination of the two options. As for the handheld, those specs don't look impressive either. Graphics TF performance would be at best 5 TF, so I don't see how you get most PS5 games running on it even with a "low power" profile being offered to devs today. The CPU is only a concern in relation to PS6, and there's no way a PS portable with those specs will natively run most any PS6 games. It'd be a Portal 2 in that use case, which I guess is fine, but is it going to be priced like the PS Portal? If not, will there be a Portal 2 for people who only want PS6 game streaming?
So yeah, at those specs, PS6 is
REALLY gonna have to compete on features and software to stand out in the market longer-term, because if the Magnus specs leak is accurate, the next Xbox
curb-stomps a PS6 w/ these leaked specs. That performance delta won't be open to question like it was this generation. And, for as much as we're expecting it to basically "be a PC", the truth is we don't quite know how MS are going to price it just yet, or if they will look at subsidization options, like Game Pass soft-subsidization. Against a PS6 that might run slightly better-looking versions of PS5 Pro games but otherwise feel like a PS5+ generationally-speaking (even if it hits $399), an Xbox "Magnus" consolized PC with much better performance, multiple storefronts (or at least access to games from multiple storefronts), generally better media features & Windows app compatibility suddenly looks pretty good at $700 on a soft-subsidized Game Pass contract.
Then again, maybe the PS6 specs have changed since whenever the ones in this leak were conceptualized? That's certainly possible. For those who just want "
more POWWAAAHH!!", that'd be the dream. I personally wouldn't mind whatever spec changes would be needed to still keep it affordable, but with an entry-level MR/VR headset in the box (and a new DualSense controller that can function as a traditional pad or VR controllers). For me,
THAT would be genuinely exciting, and with these leaked specs, maybe something they could hit with a $499/$599 price point (just change storage options and number of ports). But, again, would I trust
modern SIE to pursue that type of option? Very likely no; I'm open to being surprised in a good way tho.
