Some fresh information about the PlayStation 6 and next-gen Xbox suggests that both consoles are set to launch in 2027, with one of them potentially arriving even sooner. Along with the tentative release timeline, details regarding the hardware under the hood of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S successors – AMD’s next-gen graphics architecture.
Although their late 2020 launches don’t feel all that far away, the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 are well into the latter half of their lifecycle – typically seven to eight years for a console generation. While many gamers find that the extended cross-gen period for the PS4 and Xbox One has led to a smaller library of exclusive current-gen games than expected so far – therefore demanding a longer lifecycle for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S – platform holders Sony and Microsoft look to be setting their sights on the next generation of gaming hardware.
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Rumors surrounding the PS6 began percolating last year, and Microsoft has already confirmed a few times that development of the next-gen Xbox console is well underway. Over on NeoGAF, credible industry insider KeplerL2 recently spilled some details surrounding the tech powering these next-gen systems. According to KeplerL2, both Sony and Microsoft are planning to equip the PS6 and next-gen Xbox with AMD’s UDNA architecture – essentially a rebranding of RDNA 5.
PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox Console May Be Over Twice as Powerful as the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
Supposedly an AI-heavy upgrade over AMD’s current RDNA graphics tech, UDNA is expected to deliver around 20 percent greater rasterization and twice the ray tracing performance of the latest RDNA 4 architecture. For perspective, RDNA 4 is claimed to offer twice the rasterization and two-and-a-half times the ray tracing performance of RDNA 2 – the graphics architecture used in the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Therefore, a 20 percent uplift over that would most likely make the PS6 and next-gen Xbox very capable machines. However, KeplerL2 claims that neither next-gen console will feature AMD’s 3D V-Cache tech for their CPUs. 3D V-Cache basically increases the available cache for the processor, and thereby improves performance.
Possible Launch Timelines for the PS6 and Next-Gen Xbox
As for when the next-gen Xbox and PS6 could launch, KeplerL2 reckons 2027 is a “likely” window. The insider also noted that Microsoft is interested in beating the PS6 to market by targeting a 2026 release for the next-gen Xbox, substantiated further by the gaming giant launching major tentpole titles like Gears of War: E-Day, Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and a Halo: Combat Evolved remake next year. When asked if Sony could advance the PS6’s launch to 2026 as well, KeplerL2 said it’s possible to “rush it,” but he believes the gaming giant doesn’t need to do so unless it’s worried about the next-gen Xbox securing a year-long performance advantage for GTA 6.
Whichever way one looks at it, the prospect of brand-new PlayStation and Xbox consoles in the next couple of years seems likelier than ever. Interestingly, the PS6 is also rumored to launch alongside a new PlayStation handheld console, which has been a very hot topic among fans. Microsoft was reportedly considering a similar strategy with a proprietary Xbox handheld, but more recent reporting suggests that the device is no longer in the works.