• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

PLAYSTATION 6: Potential Innovations, Features, Business Strategies & More (Speculation)

What THREE things are YOU looking most forward to from a PS6 in 10th Gen?

  • Large visual fidelity jump over PS5 & PS5 Pro

    Votes: 101 61.2%
  • Big 1P superhero games (Spiderman, X-Men etc.)

    Votes: 10 6.1%
  • New 1P AAA and AA original IP

    Votes: 79 47.9%
  • Return of 1P classic/legacy IP

    Votes: 43 26.1%
  • Immersive innovation in UI (user interface)

    Votes: 25 15.2%
  • Immersive innovation & standardization in I/O (VR/AR, controller etc.)

    Votes: 51 30.9%
  • Innovative technologies (AI, PNM/PIM, chiplets scalability etc.)

    Votes: 87 52.7%
  • Expanded user experience (console, mobile, cloud/streaming, PC)

    Votes: 20 12.1%

  • Total voters
    165
  • Poll closed .
So we all know that there's a lot of buzz surrounding the PS5 Pro. It (most likely) is real and is (most likely) going to release sometime in Late 2024. Current performance targets put it at roughly 2x PS5 in TF and rasterization, with an emphasis on custom DLSS-style image reconstruction for RT and higher framerates. Nothing on MSRP, but I'd personally expect $499 discless/$599 with disc (and I expect regular PS5 will become $349 discless/$449 with disc standard, Late 2024).

However, I'm even more interested in the PlayStation 6. There was the highly unfortunate ransomware attack on Insomniac earlier this month and, through that, we've come to learn a few things, though nothing regarding PlayStation 6 plans. That's likely for the best, be we know for a fact Sony ARE planning, even already designing and architecting, a PlayStation 6 and plans around it, today. There are rumors that Microsoft might be aiming for a 2026 launch of 'Xbox Next', so I'm interested in speculating what Sony's potential strategy and timeline for PS6 could look like.

maxresdefault.jpg

[RELEASE TIMING]

I think this is an easy one; with the PS5 Pro likely coming late next year, I absolutely don't see Sony wanting to cut it short just two years later. At the very least, they'd get another 3 years out of PS5 with the mid-gen refresh, but considering serious constraints in supply for 2021 and a lot of 2022, not to mention games taking longer to make and cross-gen just only really now coming to an end (for non-sports games or non-F2P games anyway), I can see PS5 having an eight-year generation.

This would keep a PS6 at bay until sometime in 2028. So release timing-wise, Sony could definitely be behind Microsoft's 10th-gen offering by almost two years. However, that isn't really a handicap. If you look at historical examples, the PC-Engine and Genesis/MegaDrive both launched years ahead of the SFC/SNES...and yet it was Nintendo's system that was #1 for that generation, quite clearly so in markets like Japan (and considering recent Sega financial document leaks...perhaps with a bigger lead in the U.S than commonly though). The Dreamcast launched almost two years ahead of PS2 in Japan only to be completely outdone in sales in that country by PS2 in a single day.

Perhaps the only solid instance of a competitor launching ahead of the market leaders (Nintendo in the past, Sony today) and it giving them a long-term win, was the Xbox 360, but even this one is debatable. Early 360 sales were "good" but nothing phenomenal; the true burst in sales didn't come until Gears of War's late 2006 launch, and then Halo 3's launch in 2007 combined with exclusives like Mass Effect and Saint's Row. It took all of those, plus all the other games released up to late 2006/early 2007, plus Sony's own screw ups with PS3 early on, that created a perfect storm for 360's huge rise in sales.

And even so, that was mainly pertaining to the US and UK markets. Almost immediately, with all global markets considered PS3 was outpacing 360 sales when launch-aligned, and it remained that way for the rest of the generation. However, one thing 360's early release DID definitely help with (and can arguably be said was similarly seen with the Genesis/MegaDrive), was in getting 3P support it otherwise may not have received. That helped add value proposition to the system against PS3 which came in handy for most of the rest of that generation, but particularly in the 2006 - 2009 period.

Theoretically MS could achieve similar with a 2026 'Xbox Next' launch, but in practice I don't see that working out. This isn't the early/mid '00s anymore; Xbox already gets most of the same 3P support PlayStation does, outside of some isolated Japanese/Asian 3P IPs, a lot of which are smaller niche titles. None of the big Western or Japanese 3P titles this gen have skipped Xbox, so there is no additional 3P support to gain with a 2-year early launch of their system. Most big 3P games also have much larger budgets these days vs. the past, not to mention dev times are taking longer. This means that by necessity, they are going to support more platforms...this means less 3P exclusives by default for Microsoft. And unlike Sony, they don't have an install base or customer base big enough to make 3P exclusivity desirable by the vast majority of devs and pubs aside from smaller indie titles.

So overall, I don't see a 2028 PS6 release causing any issues for Sony. There is maybe ONE variable that could be a nuisance, that being MS's ownership of Zenimax, ABK, and some other studios under XGS. Microsoft could in theory rely on just a good enough number of exclusives from internal studios to drive adoption and install base growth for Xbox Next in a two-year early period over PS6. However, they'll never be able to do this with arguably their biggest IP like COD, due to regulatory restrictions, or ESO due to the inherent GaaS/live-service nature of that type of game. The same goes for mainline Minecraft. So even here, Microsoft's powers are heavily neutered.


[HARDWARE DIFFERENTIATOR]

Timing is one thing, but what about the things Sony do for PS6 to make it "feel" like a next gen experience? IMHO, the natural evolution forward is to properly integrate VR into the default user experience. This means producing an entry-level headset cheap enough to include with every PS6, and designing a fully integrated UI experience that can work perfectly fine traditionally, but is seamless & fluid with VR (and light AR) functionality, including seamless shifting and transition of content between VR and traditional space (and mixed usage via light AR).

I feel that VR being a separate, add-on accessory is what's really limiting its reach and full development as a medium enhancer in game design. Imagine if Nintendo made the N64's joystick an optional controller, never integrating that analog stick into a default controller design. Imagine if they did the same with the SNES's shoulder buttons. Imagine if Sony never added force feedback as a built-in default feature for all DualShocks in all PS2 systems. Now imagine how many games that designed game mechanics and features around these commonplace standards, would have been changed (likely fo the worst) without being able to count on every console owner having access to those components?

This is basically where VR is at currently when it comes to PlayStation. PSVR2 is amazing technology, but most developers are not developing games with it in mind because very few PS5 owners have the headset, and it'll likely remain that way during the generation. The only way to change that, is to get the technology to a point where it can be affordably integrated into the default system package, with real value add noticeable by the user. And I think some patents and current market products like the PS Portal hint at how Sony can get there.

For starters, the vast majority with a PS Portal seem to feel it offers a completely seamless streaming solution for PS5 games on the go. It will be improved even further as time goes on, I'm certain, but even at current it's quite remarkable. It's as close to a portable PS5 as you can get, without literally cramming PS5's components into a portable form factor. And I think Sony's expertise here with technologies like PS.Link, will be key in future VR headset designs. Headsets which can offload significantly more local processing to the host console, which in turn reduces the production costs for the headset. We are also talking entry-level headsets here, which would not require the finest lenses or audio/speaker systems (perhaps the headphones could even be a separate accessory that's fit-to-form for these types of headsets).

If the package can be slimmed down in bulk and weight, where only the most necessary components are built in, and quality economy-level materials are used for components that are meant to scale down stuff anyway (such as regular HD lenses vs 4K ones)...it might be quite possible to get an entry-level VR headset (with light AR functionality) going for under $100 in total production costs, and an MSRP between $129 and $149. So maybe not huge profit margins on these entry-level headsets, but that could be offset by the amount of additional headsets getting sold. And even beyond that, they would have higher-performance headsets with larger profit margins, selling to users who want a higher-fidelity VR experience.

Now I know what this immediately conjures pictures of: the XBO Kinect. Yes, Kinect 2 was a disaster for XBO, but not for what it was in and of itself. The Kinect 2 was actually great technology for the time, and even for a few years afterwards. It's what the original Kinect should've been tech-wise. The actual problems with Kinect 2 were a focus clearly not on gaming, combined with performance specifications of the host console (XBO) clearly weaker than its direct competitor (even this only became a real issue after the prices were revealed), and something outside of MS's control: the fears and hysteria around cybersecurity during that time period and fears about groups like the NSA gathering private data, and big corps selling said data. Microsoft, being a big tech company themselves, fell right into being a manifestation of those fears. It was ALL of those things combined that created the disaster of XBO & Kinect.

Nowadays, people don't have those fears about corps accessing their data and selling them, because they willingly give them this power every day through social media. Hacks aren't foreign things anymore; they're common-place, and in general cybersecurity is much better than it was 10 years ago. And it's become increasingly obvious that being a weaker system on paper doesn't matter if you either provide amazing experiences, have titles which punch about their weight, or a combination of both; systems like the Switch and PS5 have proven this. It's for these reasons, alongside just always having a gaming-first mentality in general, why I feel a push for VR in PS6 would work out significantly better than Kinect did for XBO. There's also the reality of diminishing returns, and where most significant visual gains going forward are more a case of scale & budget combined with non-general purpose hardware customizations that "do more with less"....all of which help this hypothetical PS6 in ways that simply never existed for the XBO which pushed Kinect.

nvidia-gpu-design.jpg

[HARDWARE CAPABILITIES]

Usually when most people speculate on next-gen hardware, this is the area they give the most focus to. What the GPU's going to be, what the CPU will be like, how much RAM it's going to have, the TFs, all the such. I've done a lot of that myself in the past, but nowadays I am less interested in speculating on hard specs in this regard, and more interested in what various technologies a next-gen system could have.

I think even with some form of VR included by default, the PS6 itself would be a noticeable jump in power over the PS5 and PS5 Pro. And, supposing an 'Xbox Next' in 2026, even a (less so) jump above even that, at least when talking about raw on-paper specs in certain categories. I'm personally expecting a VERY different approach for 'Xbox Next' than most others probably are, which makes comparing its specs (or even its entire business model) to PS6's effectively worthless, but that can be saved for another time.

Anyhow, these are some of the things I'm interested in seeing Sony pursue for the PS6 in terms of technological features, in no particular order. Though, some are more likely to happen than others, and I'll make note of such.

1: CHIPLET GPU & CPU

There's actually one big reason I would see this being a strong possibility for PS6: scalability. Remember those other VR headset models I mentioned earlier, the ones that would be higher performance? Well, if the PS6's GPU is chiplet-based, Sony could keep all manufacturing on the same node processes, so the higher end VR headsets would just include a portion of the PS6's GPU for their own built-in processing requirements.

This would help with economies of scale, meaning cheaper pricing per chip, while maximizing wafer production. Sony could also use chunks of a chiplet GPU approach for cloud streaming server expansion (something already suggested in existing patents), as well as cost-effective late-era PS5 systems that can help serve as entry-level hardware point for the PlayStation ecosystem (you know there are going to be some cross-gen games anyhow for the first year or two). AMD are already exploring chiplets; RDNA3 is technically a chiplet-based GPU design, though not to the degree of say their MI300. But they are clearly focused on expanding their chipletization designs, and I see every reason Sony would like to assist in that route for purposes of the PS6.

2: PROCESSING-NEAR-MEMORY/PROCESSING-IN-MEMORY

Technically, the PS5 already has a Processing-Near-Memory (or PNM) system in place, with its SSD I/O subsystem. The DMA controller which handles transfer of data from the SSD I/O to GDDR6, for example, can be considered a form of PNM. However, I don't know the specifics of the DMA system, like what buffer memory it has..tho the SSD I/O itself has a cache of DDR4 buffer memory (most higher-end m.2 SSDs have a DRAM cache on their Flash Memory Controller as well) which can be thought of as another form of PNM.

However, the PNM I'm hoping the PS6 leverages, is closer to having purpose-built ASICs and buffer cache close to system RAM that can handle various forms of data processing within that buffer zone. I would REALLY like to see this as PIM (Processing-In-Memory), but that would necessitate HBM-based memories (there's still a good chance Sony stick with GDDR), which are already more expensive than GDDR, and HBM-PIM even more so than regular HBM non-PIM. While PIM-based DDR exists, DDR wouldn't provide the bandwidth requirements a PS6 needs; even tho the idea of PIM is to reduce transfer of data across the memory bus (thereby heavily cutting down on power usage), there are still going to be many times where data has to be moved no matter what, and DDR-PIM would probably be too much of a bottleneck bandwidth-wise for those situations.

While Sony could in theory go with a tiered cache where some small amount of DDR-PIM or HBM-PIM is present, they'd have to automate data processing in those pools and they'd have to act as a direct cache, not normal system memory available to the developers directly. That can create some complications and it's arguable having a smaller block of SRAM cache right in the APU itself is preferable from a cost/performance POV, so my PIM dreams may have to remain dreams. However, a more robust PNM ASIC & cache buffer on the memory controller bus could be a real boon, even if continuing to use GDDR, because theres...

3: GDDRW

A new type of GDDR, it doubles chip capacity and density while reducing memory traces by half, and keeping the physical footprint mostly the same as a single normal GDDR module. This, along with increasing the data frequency to somewhere between normal high-end GDDR6 and mid-high end GDDR6X (and being much more power-efficient than GDDR6X and even GDDR6 at equivalent clocks).

Going with, say, GDDR7W should be an easy choice for Sony when it comes to PlayStation 6's system memory, assuming it's most likely they use GDDR for the next PS console. Halving the physical footprint of memory modules on the PCB while still getting the necessary bus width, bandwidths and capacities regular GDDR would provide, at similar prices, makes the W variant a common sense choice. Capacity-wise I'd just go with a safe pick of 32 GB, but Sony could have a small block of DDR for the OS in background tasks. With better file/data compression techniques tho, that may not be necessary since they can use less of the 32 GB for OS data in the first place (mid-way critical data that's compressed in RAM and low-end critical data that can be quickly moved to/from the SSD).

It's also likely Sony can have certain ASICs that can generate data and instructions on the fly contextually, further reducing the need for more raw memory. Which leads to...

4: GENERATIVE AI TECHNOLOGY

This isn't something I follow much on, if at all, but we already know these companies are moving into relying more on AI in various aspects of gaming development, software and hardware-wise. The former is potentially controversial considering the jobs that can be replaced, but it's not in the scope of what I'm discussing here. Instead, I'm more interested in Sony taking whatever AI hardware customizations they do for the PS5 Pro, and scaling them forward for the PS6.

Earlier I mentioned something like piece of silicon (maybe let's call it an ASIC for this example) that could contextually generate instructions and data for OS operations. This would make it so that OS data could take up less of a footprint in system memory. However, this could extend to other parts of the system such as a GPU with an ASIC that can contextually generate instructions for draw calls based on analyzing current code, GPU work results, and identifying certain data in system memory. These sort of things, that can automate data/instruction management for programmers in the background and give them more time to focus on creative aspects of the programming pipeline, could be stimulants in helping game development move faster, resulting in more games and more ambitious titles from teams of all sizes.

There are also user and manufacturer-side benefits to having this type of stuff built into PS6. For example, custom ASIC technology developed with AMD (as an example) that can optimize the output of framebuffer displays to connected VR devices, and again the case where less data needs to be in memory (and less data needs to be transferred between RAM and SSD storage) while the CPU can still do its required work for OS-side tasks, system calls, and the such. I'd be interested in what those with a better understanding on AI technology in this regard could think up in possibilities.

5: DUAL-FUNCTION TRADITIONAL/VR CONTROLLER

More of a usability feature, but still technologically related. If Sony are going to make VR a default offering with the PS6 experience, the controller needs to be innovated upon to offer usability in that context as well as a traditional context. The easiest way to picture this would be in a controller that can segment itself and be effortlessly reconnected, and automatically contextualize its mode of usage depending on whether it's joined as a whole or segmented into two parts.

Well, technically three parts, because I figure any room-scale calibration or wireless relay for the VR headset, could be built into the center component, which could be placed near the system or on some shelf or table in the space. I'm guessing the controller shape would have to change a good bit to accommodate this type of functionality; for example the center part would have to be more spherical but with an angled flatness on the backend, that can maybe have some small buttons along the top half, and the touchpad curves along with the front surface. Maybe the other two parts of the controller can have parts transformed when segmented, but otherwise still retain haptic functionality.

These types of changes would probably result in a more expensive controller, but the segmentation functionality could be highly innovative not just for traditional/VR seamless play, but also even just traditional non-VR gaming design content. This type of innovation could be further bolstered if there are multiple users in the same location. Lots of possibilities here.

6: MULTI-USER VR/AR

Again, not strictly focused on tech specs, but technologically related. By 'multi-user VR/AR', I am speaking about a PS6 allowing multiple people on the same console in the same physical space each use a connected VR headset device. In these types of setups, wireless is really the only option, and while I think the PS6 should facilitate that, by default it doesn't have to do so right out of the box for multiple users. Sony could just bring back something like the Multitap, but recontextualized to a multi-user wireless VR linking device, to the market.

I do think, though, that the basic VR headset should allow wireless functionality out of the box, and a PS6 should be able to allow at least a single VR headset to be used wireless in that way out of the box. Wired should still be an option, but not having wireless as an option would be a goofy look and messily complicate multi-user setups in the same physical space.

maxresdefault.jpg

[RELEASE SOFTWARE]

Okay, this is one of the most volatile areas to speculate on, in large part because a lot of Sony's software roadmap is heavily obscured, compared to say Microsoft's, which is mostly known at this point. Again, there was the unfortunate Insomniac ransomware hack & leak where we have seen a roadmap at least for that studio's software plans, so in a way we can already picture at least one big 1P AAA release arriving about in time for a 2028 PS6 launch (Spiderman 3). But what about the rest?

Well, I first want to look at this from a POV of 1P exclusives, preferably games that aren't cross-gen. I think in the case of this hypothetical PS6 & its release timeline, Team Asobi could definitely have something really neat to launch alongside it, serving as a demonstration of system features & experience the way Astro's Playroom has for the PS5, but even more ambitious with this example. Beyond that, while Naughty Dog have been a bit disappointing so far this gen depending on who you ask (Factions 2 getting cancelled is definitely a rough blow), I'm still excited to see what they bring to the PS5, and I think they could have TLOU3 ready for a PS6 launch in 2028. Either that or one of their two new IP; really use them as a statement piece and come out the gate swinging.

I also think Polyphony would be there with GT8 and, again, skipping cross-gen to cement itself as a PS6 exclusive and flex their leadership in the sim racing space right off the bat. However, that doesn't mean they skip doing GT7 optimizations specific to PS5, particularly for the PS5 Pro, which can basically be their 'Burning Shores' type of expansions with scope and visuals not held back by being cross-gen with PS4. Between Spiderman 3, Naughty Dog's game (either TLOU3 or a new IP) and GT8, I'd expect those to be the big 1P non cross-gen PS6 launch exclusives for a 2028 release. Cross-gen 1P wise could see some other titles, like Wolverine, getting PS6 updates, otherwise I'd expect any other exclusives to come through 2P and 3P offerings.

Which brings me to some other speculations. There's a rumor, for example, that Sony are collaborating with both Sega and Bandai-Namco on revitalizing some legacy IP as AA efforts, such as Wipeout. It's not a prevalent rumor, but one I hope is true, and includes other titles from the catalog being done collaboratively with 3P in 2P form. Seeing personal favorites like Parappa/UmJammer and Tomba come back in this way, either with PS6 or sooner, would be awesome. I think we can all agree that Sony need to return to doing more AA titles again, either through 1P (whether with the teams already under them or through M&As of other 3P studios & pubs to become 1P content providers) or in partnerships with 3P, for purposes of having more software exclusives on their platform. They make great in-betweens for the big AAA titles and can have very healthy profit margins with sensible budget management.

As such, I'd probably count on publishers like Square-Enix and Koei-Tecmo doing something exclusive-wise for PS6 around its launch, and again if the rumors are true & they don't come this gen, Sega & Bandai-Namco as well. Some of those China Hero and India Hero projects should finally be ready to release by 2028 if not a bit earlier, although a lot of those could also be PC Day 1 types of games, meaning they inherently (individually) provide less value proposition to a PS6, though they still would give great value proposition if not on competing consoles such as 'Xbox Next' (which again, depends on what business model Microsoft takes for that platform, something I think has a strong chance of being way different than most are considering). A PS6 with a VR experience included by default opens up many doors for game innovation from these and other titles, beyond the usual visual fidelity gains, and combined could present an incredibly compelling package even more attractive than the PS5 at its own launch in 2020.

=============

Anyway, these are my speculations on what Sony could bring with the PlayStation 6, such as a release window, launch software exclusives, technologies, and feature differentiation innovations. Things that, combined, can IMO really sell it as a generational shift, and bringing some of the various initiatives seen up to this point married into a singular, wholly unified package. You may notice there are things I did not mention here such as PC and cloud, and honestly that's because those IMO are periphery to the experience.

It's not to say they don't have a purpose in the ecosystem; it's just that I do not see them as elements worth prioritizing in selling a new generation to gamers, as both are focused on the experience outside of the main pillar of the ecosystem, the console. In light of some recent market results for PC in particular, I expect that internally plans have already changed to significantly downscale (but not completely eliminate) PC as a target platform for ecosystem growth, as certain initiatives that have been done that could have heavily reduced the value proposition of the hardware long-term don't have a place here.

Cloud, if anything, is an additive to the ecosystem but not a main platform for content delivery in and of itself. Mobile for me is somewhere in the middle; where PC is best served as a destination for some GaaS titles and catalog/legacy content ports (either in collections or individually with QoL enhancements, depending on the age of the title, but nothing that isn't at least 4-6 years old by that point within the console space), I think experiences leveraging console IP content on mobile can work if those experiences are specifically designed as different for the mobile market. Nintendo's strategy, in that regard, would fit very well here (and arguably in the PC space, which is what the some GaaS part would facilitate, though with rising game budgets making only PC-exclusive titles at AAA scale would be impossible).

Subscription services, again, aren't a massive draw; it's another "bridging" of value between generations but can't sustain itself as a main value proposition to jump into a new gen. Companies like Microsoft have learned this the hard way and Sony would be wise not to make a similar mistake. Whatever expansion plans they have to PS+ on PC & mobile, should always do everything to funnel those users back into the PlayStation console experience proper. Do everything to entice them towards getting a console, while still providing value and quality for their chosen device in a way that doesn't self-sabotage or cannibalize your console. Striking a healthy middle ground is hard but if any of the Big 3 can pull it off, it's Sony.

Well anyhow, I'm interested to hear what you all think a PlayStation 6 could bring. What ways Sony can use it leverage & cement their position in the industry and grow their presence, and what innovations the PS6 can bring in multiple facets that would draw you in, and make it feel like a fresh new generation. Try being somewhat realistic here: expecting a PS6 with 5090 Ti worth of performance, for example, is NOT realistic. It just won't happen whatsoever...but surely you're interested in other things besides raw power, right? 😉
 

saintjules

Gold Member
For next-gen I want to see the leap from a specs/tech perspective. I want a Console that out of the gate can run a game without bottlenecks. Smooth framerates.

The games will always be there, so I'm more interested in the hardware. As for the games themselves I want to see games that look like the PS5 UE5 demo and some other titles like these. And I'm talking running in real-time and playable.














 
Last edited:

CamHostage

Member
You put a LOT of work into this post, but...

Nope, don't like it. Don't like the how often PS6 pops up as a topic, as if there's something to talk about when PS5/Series gen is bound to be long, eventually will likely get a Pro line, and has had very different delivery on expectations and performance than previous gens (mostly negative responses, albeit the "next-gen" IO speed is critically underrated as a major jump, whether or not people are happy with the current state of the art in graphics.) The cycle of gens has changed a great deal as the market shifts underneath it, and this gen has been particularly eye-opening for what "next-gen" means when console makers put a new box together. (And that's assuming a new box happens, instead of them just putting everything on a streaming service as has been threatened for a few years now... not going to happen this time either, going by the failures of game streaming providers, but game providers keep pushing in that direction and your kids' kids might be the ones who prefer streaming over local performance.) You did a good job identifying some ideas of what tech is coming down the pike in another 7-10 years beyond "This now, but better", but we're not there yet.
 
If Playstation wants to really set itself a part of the competition they need to reinvent the concept of the "store" .

Lets assume they want to expand to the PC. They are not going to compete with steam at all, they can't....no one can't

But what if the PS Store is rebranded as an Experience; a super curated catalog of quality and relevant games. not to compete with steam but as a complement.

I could see a tab called "PS Legacy" with the exquisite polyphony UI. Inside this tab you could see every playstation console with a timeline of the most important, iconic and even cult classic games. a little synopsis of the game and its technological and cultural context. of course you could play each of these games....somehting like Rare replay but better.

they could have a better synergy between the marketing and the store. A State of play every 2 weeks, then in the store a tab called "state of play games" you see a list of the games in each state of play.

discovery/exposure is a huge aspect and the main reason for the 30% cut....well they better improve it. they could use Astrobot as their "A.I. powered" mascot to recommend you games.

and many other features.

the objective has to be that this store dosen't feel like one. Because this is going to be the actual WARZ for next gen.
 

MetalRain

Member
It would be weird if AI would not be used to generate some assets, textures, models e.g. I'm thinking games would ship with less pre made assets (textures, models) and then generate them on the fly or cache the results. I'm not thinking hero assets, but generating more details to filler assets.
 

Jayjayhd34

Member
Weird talking about next gen so soon. Normally these threads only start nearer to start new generation.

I think they just need focus on 4k only with upscaling tech there absolutely no need for 8k it's a waste. I think games will look really good with 120hz at 4k maybe even bump vrr to 144hz.

Another thing storage I hope they have removal storage instead of built in kind limits the life time of the console especially with downloading 100gig over and over.

Optional disc drive even though I'm fully digital I still think large portion of people who need/want discs.

Work on rest mode I've had little problems but do here lot complaints.
 
Last edited:

Mhmmm 2077

Member
For next-gen I want to see the leap from a specs/tech perspective. I want a Console that out of the gate can run a game without bottlenecks. Smooth framerates.

The games will always be there, so I'm more interested in the hardware. As for the games themselves I want to see games that look like the PS5 UE5 demo and some other titles like these. And I'm talking running in real-time and playable.















will any of these games release though?
 

yurinka

Member
  • Way better visuals thanks to highly better RT, real time global illumination and propietary better version of DLSS up to 8K 240Hz fom a native 1080p 60fps code
  • This time the optional disc reader also reads quadruple layer bluray discs (up to 128GB), dvds, cds and has UMD and Vita Cards reader to allow full BC inluding to run original PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, PSP, Vita games plus their memory cards
  • Dual Sense 2 now also emits smells and it's splittable to attach it to the sides of any phone or tablet. Features improved haptics and battery time
  • Wifi 8 (100Gbps, reduced latency of hopefully way under 25 ms, hopefully longer reach)
  • 64 GB of RAM
  • 2TB SSD, faster than the PS5 one
  • Once you install a physical disc don't need to put the disc again to play the game. All bought PS6 games can also be played via streaming, not only in PS6 but also in PS Portal, PC, mobile or smart tvs
  • All PS6 games available in both PS6 and the PSN PC or mobile stores are fully cross-buy, cross-play and cross-save
  • PS Portal 2: DualSense 2 version of PS Portal with a 4K OLED display and wifi8, features remote play, PS cloud gaming and PSN Android store and Sony Android games
  • Firesprite arcade racer that merges Wipeout, Rollcage, Jet Moto, Motorstorm, Destiny, Horizon, Marathon IPs as launch next gen only game (ready to have PSVR3 support day one)
  • Venom as launch crossgen game
  • Bend's new IP as launch crossgen game
  • Astrobot as free launch next gen only game
  • Horizon 3 as year 1 crossgen game
  • God of War set in a new mythology as year 1 next gen only game
  • Wireless PSVR3 with AR, full hand and body tracking, 8K resolution, some stuff to feel inertia/acceleration (like in racing games)
 
Last edited:

bitbydeath

Member
It would be weird if AI would not be used to generate some assets, textures, models e.g. I'm thinking games would ship with less pre made assets (textures, models) and then generate them on the fly or cache the results. I'm not thinking hero assets, but generating more details to filler assets.
And then churn out games faster and cheaper.
 

Jayjayhd34

Member
  • Way better visuals thanks to highly better RT, real time global illumination and propietary better version of DLSS up to 8K 240Hz fom a native 1080p 60fps code
  • This time the optional disc reader also reads quadruple layer bluray discs (up to 128GB), dvds, cds and has UMD and Vita Cards reader to allow full BC inluding to run original PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, PSP, Vita games plus their memory cards
  • Dual Sense 2 now also emits smells and it's splittable to attach it to the sides of any phone or tablet. Features improved haptics and battery time
  • Wifi 8 (100Gbps, reduced latency of hopefully way under 25 ms, hopefully longer reach)
  • 64 GB of RAM
  • 2TB SSD, faster than the PS5 one
  • Once you install a physical disc don't need to put the disc again to play the game. All bought PS6 games can also be played via streaming, not only in PS6 but also in PS Portal, PC, mobile or smart tvs
  • All PS6 games available in both PS6 and the PSN PC or mobile stores are fully cross-buy, cross-play and cross-save
  • Firesprite arcade racer that merges Wipeout, Rollcage, Jet Moto, Motorstorm, Destiny, Horizon, Marathon IPs as launch next gen only game (ready to have PSVR3 support day one)
  • Venom as launch crossgen game
  • Bend's new IP as launch crossgen game
  • Astrobot as free launch next gen only game
  • Horizon 3 as year 1 crossgen game
  • God of War set in a new mythology as year 1 next gen only game
  • Wireless PSVR3 with AR, full hand and body tracking, 8K resolution, some stuff to feel inertia/acceleration (like in racing games)

The size of the tv and viewing distance needed make 8k kind of pointless in a h9me we don't all have room for 100'" tvs and living rooms the size needed this idea of increasing res every gen needs to stop 4k with the tech likely to be in ps6 will be phenomal focusing on 8k will only impact graphics settings and fps and I honestly don't think it will look better than if it was 4k.

The extra work required for 8k could be put into making amazing game for majority of gamers not the 1% who have 8k tv.
 
Last edited:

vivftp

Member
My PS6 guesses:

- Dual wifi chips. One to connect to the internet. The other for direct connection of the Portal successor and PSVR3 for wireless streaming
- The majority of dev work will be done in the cloud with studios maybe only getting a couple actual dev kits and the rest all being cloud based
- ReRAM storage, once Sony gets their production line off the ground via the TSMC join venture facility. 10x faster raw storage speeds than the PS5 currently has.
- Knack 3 launch game
 

bitbydeath

Member
The size of the tv and viewing distance needed make 8k kind of pointless in a h9me we don't all have room for 100'" tvs and living rooms the size needed this idea of increasing res every gen needs to stop 4k with the tech likely to be in ps6 will be phenomal focusing on 8k will only impact graphics settings and fps and I honestly don't think it will look better than if it was 4k.

The extra work required for 8k could be put into making amazing game for majority of gamers not the 1% who have 8k tv.
If everyone listened to screen viewing distance, you’d be sitting in the next town over to watch a movie at the cinemas.
 

Go_Ly_Dow

Member
I want competent AI solutions to speed up game development. (4-7 years is crazy, I miss the PS1/PS2 era 1-3 year dev cycle for the biggest games).

AI solutions to reduce the budgets for biggest games to reduce the chances of one or two big failures crippling a studio or publisher. ($200-500mil is again ridiculous when you think many of the biggest games on PS1/PS2 had budgets of like $30-60mil).

From what I can see the risk/reward of modern game development is going the wrong way and there's existential threat for kinds of games many of us old schoolers enjoy. So I hope AI can go a long way to restore some balance by taking care of a lot of the grunt work. A game shouldn't need sell 5-7mil just to break even on dev+marketing costs.

If not then maybe GAAS will win and some publishers call it a day making AA/AAA single player story/character/world driven games and focus all resources on chasing the trend$.
 
Last edited:

Killer8

Member
They are not going to bet the farm on packing VR into each unit sold. VR is barely head above water as it is on PS5, let alone trying to force it as the main selling point for PS6. I'd be very surprised if we even get a PSVR3 as this is the second attempt Sony have made and it's still barely taking off. The old Steve Jobs quote of "people don't know what they want until you show it to them" doesn't mean forcing things in the consumer's face and hoping it sticks, it means introducing a killer app and seeing it sell like wildfire... which hasn't happened with VR.
 
Ps portal as the controller.

That'd be a pretty big box, and possibly too expensive as a pack-in for what you get.

But I can see some benefits.

You put a LOT of work into this post, but...

Nope, don't like it. Don't like the how often PS6 pops up as a topic, as if there's something to talk about when PS5/Series gen is bound to be long, eventually will likely get a Pro line, and has had very different delivery on expectations and performance than previous gens (mostly negative responses, albeit the "next-gen" IO speed is critically underrated as a major jump, whether or not people are happy with the current state of the art in graphics.) The cycle of gens has changed a great deal as the market shifts underneath it, and this gen has been particularly eye-opening for what "next-gen" means when console makers put a new box together. (And that's assuming a new box happens, instead of them just putting everything on a streaming service as has been threatened for a few years now... not going to happen this time either, going by the failures of game streaming providers, but game providers keep pushing in that direction and your kids' kids might be the ones who prefer streaming over local performance.) You did a good job identifying some ideas of what tech is coming down the pike in another 7-10 years beyond "This now, but better", but we're not there yet.

Well, if we're talking a long gen, I don't think this gen is going to be longer than 8 years honestly, before new systems replace them. An extra year given the lockdowns and chip shortages, which slowed down production and software development. I do think in a sense "console generations" are starting to fade out but IMO there are still so many immersive dedicated gaming packages that can be built, which would feel like a substantive upgrade over previous gens enough to warrant view as a new generational step. That's why I'm so focused on VR becoming a standardized part of the package, for example, and there are patents from Sony showing they're still interested in further VR immersion so this could be a goal for them as well.

I don't feel slimming the VR headset to a point where it's at least cost-effective for cheap production and (much more affordable) MSRP within five years, is going to be particularly difficult. Though, I think Sony have to put in the R&D to make it happen, I feel they've already done so in many ways between the PSVR2 and the PS Portal, plus things like the Pulse earbuds and headsets. There are ways to scale the streaming capacity from console to the headset, that offloads much of the hardware off the headset, and that can allow them to go with quality-but-cheaper components in the headset to bring down production costs for economy-level consumer models.

A lot of means to do that, Sony already have in various ways across many of their current gaming devices. Now it's about taking those, synergizing everything together, doing some more R&D and seeing what ways components can be cost-reduced and form-reduced (to bring down the bulk and weight) while keeping things affordable. If they already know they aren't necessarily targeting for the highest-possible performance specs for a PS6 in some of the traditional ways (maybe diminishing returns, custom technologies and time/budget constraints for AAA games make it less a priority going forward), that lets them shift some focus to other areas where they can make the console experience feel a lot more unique.

But as always, we'll see in time where things go.

It would be weird if AI would not be used to generate some assets, textures, models e.g. I'm thinking games would ship with less pre made assets (textures, models) and then generate them on the fly or cache the results. I'm not thinking hero assets, but generating more details to filler assets.

Interested to see how they could develop some hardware customizations (maybe like an ASIC that can be integrated into a roadmap AMD GPU product) for generative assets. IIRC, the Xbox Series consoles have a mipmap component in the GPU to make transitionary LOD textures when a texture can't be loaded in time, and is used as a placeholder. I thought that was a cool feature to learn about when they revealed it in 2020, so I guess something in a future system like a PS6 could take that idea to a whole other level, leveraging AI advanced and more specific implementations and customizations.

Though, I also think this is where things like the cloud could actually come in handy. Again, there's stuff like Flight Sim where you can opt-in to stream textures while you play, or get weather settings matching those of real world locations. I can see more developers putting together a cloud-powered database server with lots of generative asset code, and PS6 systems connected online that, while playing the game, on the user end the game can issue commands and programs to some generative AI ASIC hardware in the system based on possible states and user context, then tap into the asset database over the cloud to fetch required data, compile it locally and inject it into the runtime game code.

Stuff like that could be highly interesting.

  • Way better visuals thanks to highly better RT, real time global illumination and propietary better version of DLSS up to 8K 240Hz fom a native 1080p 60fps code
  • This time the optional disc reader also reads quadruple layer bluray discs (up to 128GB), dvds, cds and has UMD and Vita Cards reader to allow full BC inluding to run original PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, PSP, Vita games plus their memory cards
  • Dual Sense 2 now also emits smells and it's splittable to attach it to the sides of any phone or tablet. Features improved haptics and battery time
  • Wifi 8 (100Gbps, reduced latency of hopefully way under 25 ms, hopefully longer reach)
  • 64 GB of RAM
  • 2TB SSD, faster than the PS5 one
  • Once you install a physical disc don't need to put the disc again to play the game. All bought PS6 games can also be played via streaming, not only in PS6 but also in PS Portal, PC, mobile or smart tvs
  • All PS6 games available in both PS6 and the PSN PC or mobile stores are fully cross-buy, cross-play and cross-save
  • Firesprite arcade racer that merges Wipeout, Rollcage, Jet Moto, Motorstorm, Destiny, Horizon, Marathon IPs as launch next gen only game (ready to have PSVR3 support day one)
  • Venom as launch crossgen game
  • Bend's new IP as launch crossgen game
  • Astrobot as free launch next gen only game
  • Horizon 3 as year 1 crossgen game
  • God of War set in a new mythology as year 1 next gen only game
  • Wireless PSVR3 with AR, full hand and body tracking, 8K resolution, some stuff to feel inertia/acceleration (like in racing games)

Can get behind the idea of an updated optional disc player that does full local BC of PS1/2/3/4/5/PSP/Vita physical games, and interface with peripherals with those systems. I think the processing power for all of that would still be within the PS6 itself of course, but an optional disc reader like that (call it a PS6 Disc Reader Pro or something) could have a decent market for like $199.

Still don't know how Sony are going to implement smell/scent technology into a controller, or any company for that matter. That would probably still require some serious tech locally in the controller itself, plus like chemical samplers or something. Which might not get past FCC approval. I think any smell-o-vision stuff with game controllers is going to be optional and with some pricey component you can buy separately. But for those who love immersion, it'd be worth the price.

Agree with most of the other stuff; 64 GB RAM might be too big an ask though. Don't know if prices would be cheap enough for it while still maintaining a reasonable price for the console. That's why I'm personally going with 32 GB. A faster SSD would make more RAM a bit redundant anyway, as would a smaller footprint for the OS in RAM. A near 32 GB scratchpad for logic & graphics data should be good enough for a 10th-gen console.

My PS6 guesses:

- Dual wifi chips. One to connect to the internet. The other for direct connection of the Portal successor and PSVR3 for wireless streaming
- The majority of dev work will be done in the cloud with studios maybe only getting a couple actual dev kits and the rest all being cloud based
- ReRAM storage, once Sony gets their production line off the ground via the TSMC join venture facility. 10x faster raw storage speeds than the PS5 currently has.
- Knack 3 launch game

Has there been any progress on the ReRAM stuff? I remember talk about it years ago, it sounded really cool and promising. But it's been very quiet since then. Plus, Intel basically removed Optane memory (closest equivalent to ReRAM that was commercially large) off the consumer market a while ago. Maybe these companies are just feeling persistent memory isn't worth it in the consumer space with SSDs getting so fast, NAND getting cheaper quicker (relative persistent memories) and decompression getting better?

I mean if Sony are still pursuing commercial use with ReRAM the best chance would be in a PS6, but it'd probably be best used as a lower-level cache. ReRAM is byte-addressable, which is a big advantage over NAND memories, plus it has much lower latency. It could serve really well as say a system-level L4 cache, they'd probably only need 4 GB of it and still get a big improvement to the memory I/O subsystem.

But it'd need to be embedded in this case, like how there's embedded MRAM for some products and then the non-embedded (the type you can buy and just solder onto a motherboard with support). Dual wifi chips also, yeah, that should probably be a thing. Don't want someone having to choose between connecting online or using VR wirelessly (or forced to use Ethernet if they want to use VR wirelessly).
 

GametimeUK

Member
1. Pay a premium subscription for faster download speeds.

2. Pay Sony to have ai connect to your console via share play and unlock some difficult trophies.

3. The ability to gift your friends a digital game for a small service charge.

4. To pay for a season pass for playstation profiles similar to Xbox rewards that allows you to unlock profile pictures, themes and random in game stuff.

5. Playstation Home as a subscription service with micro transactions.

6. PS5 backwards compatability unlocked via a small yearly fee.

7. Bluray player app behind a pay wall.

8. PS Party Chat+ subscription. 2 people in chat is free, but 3+ players is behind paywall.

9. After uninstalling a game the free hard drive space becomes inactive for 48 hours to stop people persistently downloading. This time be can be shortened or eliminated by a small fee.

10. Online playtime is restricted to 3 hours per day, but you can pay a daily charge to extent this per hour.
 

nial

Member
Spider-Man 3 Part 1 whatever releasing in late 2027 makes me believe that will be when the PS6 releases. It's just so fitting.
A new premium Astro would be great, just like Knack also being a SCEJ 3D platformer as a launch title.
 
1. Pay a premium subscription for faster download speeds.

2. Pay Sony to have ai connect to your console via share play and unlock some difficult trophies.

3. The ability to gift your friends a digital game for a small service charge.

4. To pay for a season pass for playstation profiles similar to Xbox rewards that allows you to unlock profile pictures, themes and random in game stuff.

5. Playstation Home as a subscription service with micro transactions.

6. PS5 backwards compatability unlocked via a small yearly fee.

7. Bluray player app behind a pay wall.

8. PS Party Chat+ subscription. 2 people in chat is free, but 3+ players is behind paywall.

9. After uninstalling a game the free hard drive space becomes inactive for 48 hours to stop people persistently downloading. This time be can be shortened or eliminated by a small fee.

10. Online playtime is restricted to 3 hours per day, but you can pay a daily charge to extent this per hour.

Buddy the Apple thread isn't until next week 😉🤣

Spider-Man 3 Part 1 whatever releasing in late 2027 makes me believe that will be when the PS6 releases. It's just so fitting.
A new premium Astro would be great, just like Knack also being a SCEJ 3D platformer as a launch title.

From what's been mentioned/rumored, a new Astro game could actually be coming next year or, if not then, in 2025, so we might not have very long to wait for that TBH.

Spiderman 3 Part 1 could be late 2027, but it's also possible it's been pushed back. Some of the slides in that ransomware leak seem like they were a lot older than others. No telling if the target date for Spiderman 3 factored in certain impacts from lockdown or not. Could also be the Spiderverse game they were testing internally (now shelved), has parts they'll adapt to the multiplayer and could have set a couple things back.

For whatever reason, a 2027 release for PS6 still feels a bit too soon considering this has been the first full year with regular availability, and the PS5 Pro is coming next year (most likely). It took PS5 four years after PS4 Pro to launch; maintaining similar for PS6 after PS5 Pro would put it at 2028. But, hey, we'll see what happens.
 

nial

Member
From what's been mentioned/rumored, a new Astro game could actually be coming next year or, if not then, in 2025, so we might not have very long to wait for that TBH.
I know, I'm talking about the next, next one. 😛
For whatever reason, a 2027 release for PS6 still feels a bit too soon considering this has been the first full year with regular availability
I think what would matter more is PS5's sales performance in its later years. If it has a similar decline in 2026-2027 as PS4 had in 2019-2020, no doubt they will looking to release the PS6 in holiday 2027, IMO.
 

reinking

Gold Member
1. Pay a premium subscription for faster download speeds.

2. Pay Sony to have ai connect to your console via share play and unlock some difficult trophies.

3. The ability to gift your friends a digital game for a small service charge.

4. To pay for a season pass for playstation profiles similar to Xbox rewards that allows you to unlock profile pictures, themes and random in game stuff.

5. Playstation Home as a subscription service with micro transactions.

6. PS5 backwards compatability unlocked via a small yearly fee.

7. Bluray player app behind a pay wall.

8. PS Party Chat+ subscription. 2 people in chat is free, but 3+ players is behind paywall.

9. After uninstalling a game the free hard drive space becomes inactive for 48 hours to stop people persistently downloading. This time be can be shortened or eliminated by a small fee.

10. Online playtime is restricted to 3 hours per day, but you can pay a daily charge to extent this per hour.

lame page GIF
 
Top Bottom