Before discussions about a mid-gen refresh of the PlayStation 5 even started, rumors about the PS6 began to surface. A recent report indicates that the PS6 will feature an AMD chip, similar to the PS5 Pro, and will include backward compatibility.
According to Reuters, Sony was in negotiations with both Intel and AMD, with AMD securing the contract in 2022. The report indicates that there was a competitive bidding process to select the chip manufacturer, ultimately narrowing down to Intel and AMD as the final contenders.
One of the key factors behind the deal’s breakdown was profit sharing. The report notes that disagreements over the profit margin for each processor became a critical sticking point, preventing both parties from reaching a mutual agreement.
PlayStation 6 Backwards Compatibility
Additionally, Reuters reports that backward compatibility was another significant issue between Sony and Intel. According to the report, “Ensuring backward compatibility with previous PlayStation versions would have been costly and required extensive engineering resources.”
Given that PlayStation has relied on AMD chips for the past few generations, it’s clear that Sony prefers to maintain this chipset formula. Sony has likely requested AMD to design and manufacture the chip for the PlayStation 6. With a focus on ensuring that games are compatible across all devices, backward compatibility remains a crucial priority for Sony.
However, it remains unclear whether the report suggests that the PS6 chipset will be backward compatible with PS4 or PS5 games.
While there hasn’t been an official statement from AMD or Sony, a spokesperson from Intel informed Reuters:” We strongly disagree with this characterization but will not comment on current or potential customer discussions. We have a robust customer pipeline across both our product and foundry businesses and are focused on innovating to meet their needs.”
Currently, based on court filings from the Activision-Microsoft case, it’s expected that Sony will not release its next-generation gaming console before 2028. What do you think about the PS6 featuring an AMD chip again with backward compatibility, now that the deal with Sony has been renewed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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