PS6 LIVE: Release date and console details 'revealed' by Sony

ICYMI: PS6 release date and console details 'revealed' by Sony

PS6 release date and console details may have been 'revealed' when Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for PlayStation games, according to an industry analyst.

Referencing Sony's announcement, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls said in a blog post: "We believe this almost certainly guarantees that the PS6 won't arrive until 2028 at the earliest. Ampere's current expectation is that the console will launch at the end of 2028.

"Second, at a minimum, the standard version of a PS6 will not include a physical media disc drive. Sony will be looking for all the ways it can reduce the cost of its next-gen console and this is an easy win. It's possible that an add-on disc drive could be made available to play older PS4 and PS5 games on disc."

These details are expectations and speculation. Sony has not confirmed any official details about the PS6.

PS6 release date and console details 'revealed' by Sony

PS6 release date and console details may have been 'revealed' when Sony announced it will stop making physical discs for PlayStation games, according to an industry analyst.

Referencing Sony's announcement, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls said in a blog post: "We believe this almost certainly guarantees that the PS6 won't arrive until 2028 at the earliest. Ampere's current expectation is that the console will launch at the end of 2028.

"Second, at a minimum, the standard version of a PS6 will not include a physical media disc drive. Sony will be looking for all the ways it can reduce the cost of its next-gen console and this is an easy win. It's possible that an add-on disc drive could be made available to play older PS4 and PS5 games on disc."

These details are expectations and speculation. Sony has not confirmed any official details about the PS6.

FULL STORY: Sony confirms end to physical PlayStation game discs and the internet has erupted

Sony has announced it will end the production of physical discs for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028 and the internet has erupted.

Physical copies of games have remained popular and preferred among some gamers because they own that physical disc, and therefore a copy of the game, whereas if players buy a game digitally, they buy a license to play that game and do not own it.

For example, with GTA 6 being a digital only game at the moment with physical boxes only having download codes in them, no-one will actually own a copy of the game unless Rockstar Games decides to print the game on to discs.

PlayStation is already removing more than 500 StudioCanal movies that were available to purchase on the platform that users have had to pay money for, meaning although they've likely paid the same amount as they would for a physical copy, they will no longer be able to enjoy that movie digitally any more.

That's a key example of why so many users have been keen and even campaigning for physical media to be preserved and continued - but now the biggest step yet in what appears to be an upcoming all-digital future has been made by Sony.

Read the full story here.

Sony president hints at PS6 handheld console

For the first time, the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment has hinted an accompanying handheld console to the expected PS6 exists.

There has been lots of speculation Sony is planning to release a handheld device as part of its next generation of hardware, expected to be the PS6, and now Hideaki Nishino has hinted this is indeed the case.

Speaking in a Sony Q&A session, he said: "PlayStation has long been strongly associated with the idea of playing in the living room. However, in recent years, more users globally have been using personal monitors.

"In response, we are selling peripherals such as monitors and speakers to break away from the fixed perception that 'PlayStation equals the living room' and to broaden usage scenarios.

"For the next generation platform, rather than simply serving as an alternative to PCs, we aim to deliver value that is unique to PlayStation. This includes not only technological advancements but also an expansion of usage styles, enabling a seamless experience that can be enjoyed naturally beyond the living room."

The PS6 and an accompanying handheld console have not yet been officially confirmed by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Reaction to Sony's official update

Sony has addressed the ongoing increase in component costs, claiming that it doesn’t intend to sell hardware at a 'significant' loss going forward - VGC
by u/Rsodyyy in PS5

In the PS5 Subreddit, fans have been reacting to Sony saying "as a principle, we do not intend to sell hardware at significant losses" when asked about future prices of "the next generation platform".

On Rsodyyy's post (which has since been removed by moderators), Salty_Sabuteur said: "Welp, I also don't intend on buying hardware at a significant loss."

MrYK_ said: "F*** AI."

juicyman69 said: "They're not dumb. They need to sell hardware to sell games. They will certainly push as far as they can. It's going to be a long generation. Who knows what the industry will look like it a years time."

brockzilla82 said: "Most will just stick to PS5 for a while I assume."

stingertc said: "1,200 dollar PS6 here we go."

Official Sony update as PS6 release date and price speculation swells

Sony has given an official update on the future of its hardware prices as speculation continues the PS6 could retail for more than $1,000.

Renowned hardware leaker KeplerL2 recently claimed on NeoGAF the cost to manufacture speculated PS6 consoles has gone up by $200 from his suggestion of $760 in March to $960 now.

During Sony's latest Q&A session, when asked about future prices of "the next generation platform", the company replied: "As a principle, we do not intend to sell hardware at significant losses.

"At the same time, we are carefully monitoring the market and continuing to evaluate our approach."

Sony president and CEO Hiroki Totoki said last month the company "has not yet decided on what timing we will launch the new console or at what prices".

This comes soon after Valve revealed the cheapest model of its Steam Machine console is $1,049.

These rising hardware costs are due to RAM and storage shortages caused by huge tech companies investing heavily in AI data centres.

Gaming consoles across the board are unprecedentedly going up in price rather than depreciating because of this and brand new hardware is becoming much more expensive to manufacture.