We’re already thinking about the PS6, even though it’s been almost three years since the launch of the PS5. But, just like most consoles, Sony makes sure to look forward to its successor already.
We’re unlikely to see another major new PlayStation console for a few years yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t imagine what we’d like to see from the next PlayStation – or predict when we’ll get our hands on it. After all, we know that Sony is already thinking ahead, having patented the names PS6, PS7, PS8, PS9, and PS10.
In the meantime, we’ll likely see Sony launch a PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro, though that’s anyone’s guess right now. That is, assuming the last generation of anything goes by, the PS4 saw the release of the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro variants several years after the base console. Mid-generation hardware reviews are pretty common these days, after all.
PS6
So, while we’re still enjoying the PS5 games and the best PS5 games, we’ve rounded up everything we want to see from the PS6 and when we can expect to get our hands on the next PlayStation.
PS6 release date: When can we expect it to launch?
The PS6 is probably out of reach. The PS5 was only released in November 2020, so it’s unlikely that Sony would consider releasing a brand new PlayStation for several years. PlayStation consoles have typically been released for six or seven years, with the PS4 arriving in 2013 and the PS5 following in 2020.
In an interview with Game Informer (Opens in a new tab)Sony’s Executive Vice President of Hardware Engineering Masayasu Ito has confirmed that the PS5 life cycle is expected to last around six or seven years, which means we won’t see the PS6 until at least 2026.
“In fact, in the past, the new platform cycle was seven to ten years, but in view of the rapid development and development of technology, it is actually a six to seven year platform cycle,” Masayasu said.
“Then we can’t fully catch up with the rapid development of technology, so our thinking is that as far as the platform for the PS5 is concerned, it’s a cycle of maybe six to seven years. But in doing so, the life cycle of the platform, we should be able to Changing the hardware itself and trying to incorporate advances in technology. That was the thinking behind it, and the test case for that thinking was the PS4 Pro that launched in the middle of the PS4 launch cycle.”
Sony appears to be following a similar roadmap for the PS4, which means we’ll likely see a PS5 Pro or PS5 Slim release sometime in the middle of this life cycle: around 2023 or 2024.
PS6: What we want to see
smaller console
PS5 is a huge console. In fact, it is the largest console in recent history. But bigger doesn’t always mean better, and the PS5’s size makes it unwieldy for those who don’t have a shelving unit to house it — and let’s be honest, not many of us do.
With the PS6 (and maybe even with the PS5 Slim Edition), Sony will hopefully learn from its mistakes, making its next-gen console smaller and more streamlined, while still allowing for adequate airflow.
More affordable expandable internal storage
It would be possible to expand the PS5’s internal storage by popping out the side panel and installing an SSD, once Sony drops a software update to enable it – but it’s not quite that simple. The PS5 only accepts compatible NVMe SSDs, which match or exceed current drive specifications, and they don’t come cheap.
These types of SSDs are usually very expensive, which means gamers may opt for external storage instead — but unfortunately, these external storage options don’t use up the raw power of the PS5. With the PS6, Sony will hopefully make expanding internal storage easier – perhaps taking a similar approach to the Xbox Series X’s expandable storage card.
Built-in Bluetooth audio support – so we don’t need an official headphone dongle
It’s baffling that in 2020 a brand new game console was launched that requires you to plug in a USB dongle receiver to use its wireless headphones. Like, what the actual hell is Sony. Talk about an aesthetic assault on our eyes and a storage area under the TV. Just build the amazing support in PS6. Good grief.
Wireless Charging for Controllers/Headphones – Can only be placed on top when powered off
Sure, the Sony Dock for PS5 DualSense controllers works well and the controllers slide nicely against the charging pins – but we wouldn’t want another piece of hardware by our TV. Sony should take a leaf out of the smartphone industry’s book and build a wireless charging pad into the top of the PS6. This will allow you to place a controller on the top of the console, when you’re not gaming, to charge it—and you can even extend the wireless charging technology to headphones, a media remote, and any other peripherals.
Connect to TV without wires (and without latency)
There are a lot of wires behind our media stations – and the PlayStation 5 is a guilty party. We have power and HDMI, as well as a completely separate connection block for the console charging dock. Add the HD camera, and the extra cable for PSVR 2 when that’s on and things are a mess. With the PS6, we want everything else to be wireless – obviously without any lag or latency.
Improved user interface
The PS5’s updated UI certainly screams “next-gen,” but it also has a few flaws that we’d like to see ironed out with the PS6. The PlayStation Store is a tricky thing to navigate, especially when it comes to finding sales, trying to find your friends and organizing a party isn’t as straightforward as it was with the PS4 – and above all – even trying to find the “shutdown” button takes longer than it should. While the PS4 user interface was in desperate need of an update, we found it much more user friendly. With the PS6, we hope to see Sony settle for a futuristic and accessible middle ground.