As gamers, we are hardly ever satisfied with the available technology and always look forward to what’s coming next. While debates go on about which gaming console is better, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are already developing new systems.
That’s right, the PS6 is currently in development, but Sony still hasn’t shared many details about the console or what it could deliver when it finally hits the shelves. However, that hasn’t stopped speculation, and one former PlayStation executive believes the PS6 will still feature a disc drive.
There’s no denying the fact that digital gaming has grown at a shocking rate in the last couple of years, forcing us all to abandon physical copies. However, this shift has led to many wondering if the next generation of consoles, particularly the PS6, will abandon physical games altogether.
In an interview with the Kiwi Talkz podcast, Shawn Layden, former CEO of PlayStation, was asked whether the PS6 will abandon discs and adopt a completely digital approach. Since we’ve seen Sony abandoning the disc drive with the controversial PS5 Pro, it seems like it would be an obvious move.
However, Layden opened up about how big Sony’s market is around the globe, and it can’t afford to drop discs. Sure, Xbox might have had success with this route, but it’s due to the fact that its market is much smaller.
On the other hand, PlayStation’s gaming influence is over hundreds of countries. According to Layden, PS6 could lose out on millions of potential customers around the world if it doesn’t bring a dedicated disc drive.
It’s not just that; the former PlayStation executive also pointed out that athletes travel with their consoles, and military personnel play games without internet connections. These examples point out why the PS6 featuring disc support is necessary.
Back in February 2024, Sony President and CFO Hiroki Totoki stated that PlayStation 5 is already in the “latter half” of its life cycle. The statement, which Sony SVP Namoki Matsuka reiterated, suggested that the next PlayStation console could hit the market in 2028.
However, there’s a chance that PS6 might be released even earlier. On January 17th, NeoGAF user Kepler_L2 reported that PS6 is currently designed complete and is in “pre-si[ilcon] validation.” The user has previously shared many accurate details about the PS5 Pro before its release.
These reports suggest that Sony is currently testing the console’s hardware digitally to make sure it’s working as intended before producing the first physical protocol.
The very first iteration of the console’s SoC is said to be code-named AO, and its tapeout is scheduled for 2025. In the past, Sony has always started the SoC tapeout process two years before pushing out the silicons for mass-produced consoles. If history ends up repeating itself, we could see PS6 dropping sometime in late 2027.
With that said, do you think PS6 should abandon disc support? Let us know in the comments below.
#PS6 #Reportedly #Bringing #Feature #Game #Collectors #Dream
