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Rumour: Next-Gen AMD Tech to Power Supposed Sony Handheld as Well as PS6

UDNA architecture for PlayStation GPUs

by · Push Square

An otherwise fairly dry rumour has brought up the possible existence of another Sony handheld gaming device.

A Chinese hardware leaker who goes by zhangzhonghao has posted some supposed information about Sony's next-gen PlayStation consoles, which are already rumoured to be a handheld machine as well as the expected PS6.

If accurate, the details basically tell us that Sony is sticking with AMD for its next-gen hardware, making use of the tech company's newfangled UDNA architecture in its GPUs. AMD currently has two different architectures catered towards different users; with UDNA, it's unifying them into just one.

We're not certain what benefit this will bring to consumers, but at the very least, Sony working with AMD once again should mean backwards compatibility won't be an issue.

The leaker also says the CPU will be a Zen 4 or Zen 5, though apparently this hasn't been decided yet.

While the source of this leak is meant to be quite reliable, it's still just a rumour for now. Although, again, we suspect Sony will indeed stick with AMD for some components in the PS6 — and if a handheld really is happening, it makes sense to have similar hardware inside for cross-compatibility with the home console.

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What are your thoughts on this? Will Sony bring us a handheld along with the PS6? Are you interested in AMD's UNDA architecture? Discuss in the comments section below.

[source chiphell.com, via insider-gaming.com]

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About Stephen Tailby

Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Having grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he's developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He's also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.

Comments 48

It should be zen 5... What's the point of zen 4 when it's going to be ancient by the time it will release.

In fact, let me fix myself. It should be zen 6 minimum, as we won't get ps6 until at least 2027 November. And zen 6 releasing in 2025... Zen 4 will be PS4 all over again.

I would be surprised if we got another PSP or Vita tbh. Nintendo and mobile gaming have cornered the market.

A PlayStation Steam Deck however, is a real possibility. The Portal was a warm up to the main meal - just like the Pro to the PS6.

DNA for me and DNA for U.
Dad jokes aside, I ain't surprised to see AMD powering both devices, but I might say I think Nvidia might be a better pick for a handheld

It took less than 2 weeks after the release of the PS5 Pro before we got PS6 rumors

Please just give us a Playstation equivalent for the Steam Deck, the Portal being reliant on streaming from the console itself is not good enough. It's 2024, nearly 2025, I do not want to be bound to a TV screen for my gaming needs.

Yes, that's what I'm hoping for! Their newest APUs run extremely well at low wattage (wukong, 1080p ~60fps on a tdp of 15w) which means longer battery life.
Of course we're also seeing an increased shift to arm processors which are even more power efficient, but also bring compatibility issues with x86 software on which PS4 and ps5 is based on. We'll see.

I think any kind of handheld has to be just compatible with the current console and share the same library.

That's a compelling option, but it sounds ludicrously expensive.

@get2sammyb Been thinking about this too. A split platform just doesn't work anymore so it needs to be a shared library, but if it's built to run PS6 games, or even PS5 games, it's going to cost as much as a steam deck.

I'd be happy with the ability to install PS 1 - 4, and stream games from 5 and 6. Keep that price down and appealing, like the Portal.

@CielloArc Dad jokes aside? I didn't agree to this.

Proper handheld console like steam deck that can play native game not streaming and i buy day 1 sony. Ex owner of psp and vita.

I hope Sony releases a new handheld so I can read all of the apologies from all of the people who mocked me when I said they eventually would years ago. 😂 I don’t mind people disagreeing with me, the world would be so boring if we all agreed on everything, but the name calling insults has just gotten so out of hand.😝

Anyway the Portal exists so…

@get2sammyb Sony should bite the bullet once again and make an attractive and affordable device and sell at a loss to get an edge again in the handheld department. They'll have to compete with steam and the likes if they make an expensive luxury item like the ps5pro.

@amatmulisha yes but have you ever used a steam deck? It can barely run anything decent at 60fps . Fallout 76 was hilarious on it! I sold it after 2 weeks

If Sony is going to charge $700 for an "enthusiast" console (with less features than the original) then I can imagine they would charge $1500 for a PS6 that includes a handheld that can play the entire library. Probably closer to $2000 honestly.

@Mikey856 I mostly play Civ 5 on mine so I've never noticed 😂

But yeah, it is already a pretty outdated piece of kit.

@Golem25 I'd rather be bound to my mini led tv than a crappy wee screen, plus im older so the old eyesight aint as good as it was 🤣

@Mikey856 that's a bit of a maximalist take and it's not a given that handheld games of the past ran with 60fps. Steam deck often hit a good middle ground on 40fps, but if you plan to connect it to a bigger screen, yes... things get ugly.
But with new mobile chips and ai upscaling and frame sampling newer devices are an entirely new ball game.

@LifeGirl I played age of empires and fallout 76 and that was enough to get rid of it. Absolutely pointless machine imo lol (unless you enjoy the old rts games possibly or point and click but that’s it)

old rumour we already knew all of that

@tameshiyaku maybe mate but deck sales figures ain’t setting the world on fire. Last I looked they were on 3 million sold? That’s pretty awful numbers considering pc is supposed to be the growing platform. I’m led to believe the Portal is outselling it quite handily ?

I'm only interested in PS6 if it is backwards compatible with PS4.

@Mikey856 Steam Deck is selling very well in its market. Handheld PCs have been a niche market for a long time, with devices from GPD etc selling relatively low numbers. It deserves all the praise too, since having a handheld device to play games in your Steam library is extremely convenient. It's not a portable PS5, but then, no portable device is. Keep your resolution in check and it will play games well for a 2022 device.

Makes sense though I wonder if it can really compete with the switch model since the PS6 and the handheld will be sold separately. Also the Steamdeck is a Linux platform with a massive library too.

I'm sure it will sell well but I don't see it taking over the current standards in the industry,

@Bamila Designing hardware takes a long time. They can't just take a chip and release a system with it a year later. There's a reason why we're already hearing rumours about it, and that's because they've started designing it pretty much immediately after PS5 came out. They also have to make a good deal with AMD to keep price in check, so using cutting edge hardware is unlikely.

For the handheld, they really should be using ARM processor instead of Zen4/5 (which is amd64/x86) to be as energy efficient as possible. Unfortunately it would make backwards compatibility difficult without some technical wizardry.

I will never buy a dedicated ps handheld again after psvita. Sony just don't support them. Also I don't want a handheld constraining the ps6 if its shared library, this is the equivalent of xbox series s. I am super happy with the Portal, just make it 4k 120 streaming, networks are getting better and better, and it just makes sense to utilise the power of the cloud and ps6

@Mikey856 the hardware market on PC is way more fractured than any console hardware. Having any single pc hardware selling 3m is a feat as one could get any random pc hardware. Had a steam deck, performance was alright but if I spend more time tweaking than playing it's not for me.
Psportal isn't setting the world on fire either with approx. <1m sold, but doing way better than expected considering one could get a cheap tablet a telescopic controller and voilà... a better streaming device that can generally do more minus the fancy vibration that only is noticeable in astro bot.

If Sony can make a Steamdeck-like system and bring it in around $400-500, I think with their build quality and hardware design, it could truly compete. Even with the "limited" library of their ecosystem compared to PC, it'd make a whole lot of sense.

Make a PS6. All the bells and whistles it deserves. Of course.

But then also have a Steamdeck/Switch-like handheld that plays the same games, but scaled down (just like you get on other handhelds) and is able to be docked to a TV and act like a "lesser" version of the main console. They laid the groundwork for this sort of thing over the years with PSP, PSTV, their streaming acquisitions... Give your consumers a choice of full at-home gaming with all your 8k textures and top tier frame rates etc., but also give them a mobile option for people who want that on the go convenience. Anyone who wants both, have at it, of course.

Some may balk at that idea, but no one can deny the sales success of the Switch, the huge boon to PC gaming that the Steamdeck and its competitors are leading, nor the sales success of the Xbox Series S (compared to its X counterpart). Consumers are outright screaming that "best in show" graphics aren't the end all be all many claimed over the years. Sony should embrace that and cater to that portion of the market with a "lesser" system, but do so in a way that opens up their ability to compete more broadly. Having a two prong strategy would let them compete on multiple fronts and make a real case for staying within the PS ecosystem.

As someone who likes my Switch, my PC, and my PS5 for different reasons, it's not out of the question that I try and scale down on ecosystems/storefronts I'm buying into over the coming years (just like I ditched Xbox at the beginning of this generation after 3 hardware generations of support). Consolidating into/under Sony is an argument they stand to make more appealing to someone like me. And they should be making it. This sort of strategy could do that for them.

My gut tells me they'll ***** it up, though, and overcharge simply because they think they can. And it'll ruin the effort more or less. Their hubris is legendary.

@MFTWrecks I would be willing to pay ps5pro prices if that base handheld would include a dock with a built in egpu to offer good visuals on a 4k TV.

@tameshiyaku I could see them doing that.

Make a core console the way they always do (PS6). Make a PS6 Mobile unit, as I described (maybe running PS6 games at PS5 tech standards). Then also make an eGPU-powered dock to push the PSM to near-PS6 levels of performance (a gap comparable to, say, PS5 vs PS5 Pro).

It'd be like their ecosystem supported 3 different ways of enjoying PS6 titles: console, handheld w standard dock, handheld + eGPU dock that sort of bridges that gap.

You want full PS6 experience? Buy the console. You want PS6 titles on the go? Buy the PSM. You want the convenience of the PSM but also want the "full/nearly full" PS6 performance for your PSM? Buy the eGPU unit, no console required.

That'd be dope as hell.

@Mikey856 Well, the Steam Deck can run GTA5 at 60fps, which is at least better than a PS4

@Mikey856 Steamdeck does very well for what it is. Fallout 4 runs fantastic on it, as did CP2077, Senuas Sacrifice, and a ton of other games, Baldurs Gate 3 has a lot of fans on Deck.
I'm not sure what you thought you were getting for that price point, but it's fantastic kit

Oh? No more PSVR? Who would've thought. 😏

Feel like I remember reading awhile back that Sony had already chosen to go with AMD again for PS6 while Xbox were still shopping around.

It made me think Xbox was unsure whether to commit because they were still unsure whether they'll even make another proper next gen console.

@CallMeDuraSouka I assumed I was getting a mini pc and all I hear from the master race is how much better games are on pc devices. So I was surprised to see most of the triple A titles on steam store sport the ‘not okay on steam deck’ badge 🤷‍♂️. Is that fair?

Yeah after the ps portal update I do not believe they want to go back to the money pit of making a new handheld in a saturated market

People really do forget how bad the ps vita did.
The only way a playstation even has a small chance of competing is if you literslly can play every game the main console can play, by just allowing you to play the library of games you have natively.

Anything else and it's as dead as the vita

This'll be a premium companion-style device, most likely, like the Steam Deck is for most PC gamers.

It'd be an extra incentive to make the jump to full digital as well, considering it'll likely be digital software only.

@djlard well 4, 5 & 6 all going to be on AMD architecture, all AMD CPUs and GPUs so that's a guarantee.

We just have to hope AMD can make a chip that doesn't overheat in a smaller system.

Also Sony need to NOT make any proprietary hardware for this system. This is why the Vita failed. Flash memory should be soldered on the chip, starting at 256GB, the system should have USB C, AUX port, remote play again, ability to act as a second controller to PS6, PS Portal form factor, at least 5 hour battery life, heavy focus on PSSR doing majority of the work to bring massively scaled down PS6 games to handheld, an adequate amount of NPUs and TPUs for machine learning and other tasks.

Funny thing is that all mobile phones from 2024 and onwards will tick some of these criteria. Hopefully cost of parts will be lower as a result and Sony can focus on not robbing their customers.

@CallMeDuraSouka Agreed. I think the Steam Deck is one of the best pieces of kit I've ever bought tbh, and generally performs better than I expected for a tiny portable PC.

The list of games I've played that run at 60fps are GTA5, Yakuza 0, Yakuza 3, DIRT3, Grid 2, Forza Horizon 4 (pretty impressive given it's a recent-ish huge open world game), Sleeping Dogs, Euro Truck 2, Titanfall 2, and Street Fighter 6.

Not to mention it being great at emulation.

Having access to almost the entire history of PC games including old classics like Deus Ex and Half Life, all the way to modern Xbox games like Forza Horizon 4, modern PlayStation games like God of War, being able to play some current releases like Street Fighter 6 at 60fps is incredible as is.

Then once you add in emulation with EmuDeck/Emulation Station, you have a really slick front end to play everything from Super Mario World and Mario 64, to classic Dreamcast and PS2 games like Daytona, Soul Calibur and GT4, as well as even GameCube classics like F-Zero GX and Mario Sunshine. All on the same portable machine that can be plugged into a TV. Amazing piece of kit really.

I like the PSP and would like a new Sony handheld, but part of the allure of the SteamDeck is its versatility.

@mariomaster96 there are always going to be rumors going around because people can't help from being curious but you won't see a ps6 maybe 4 to 5 years from now or more. i'm guessing between 2028 to 2030 release date.

honestly i'd take a legacy handheld that can play ps3 games that can also hook up to a tv like a steam deck.

Two SKUs coming next gen.

  • Portable w/gpu dock (pricier)
  • Legacy console (a bit cheaper)

Talking out of my a*s of course, but I do know in my heart of hearts that they will be named:

  • The PlayStation 6 Fondle
    &
  • The PlayStation 6 Worship

It was already reported Sony will be sticking with AMD - backwards compatibility.
Also, if there is a handheld, expect it to be £700. The backpack battery required to run it will be an extra £200.

@ProfessorNiggle Nothing is guaranteed. It is only about goodwill of SONY.

What's the bet it's another Portal model? Still no dual screen support or Android though. Or the PS6 or something. Whatever to work out between companies to assist with components for it is always likely. Well back compat makes sense and consistent CPU.

Anyone use a PS5 and a power bank good enough for portable screen? Nope well TV people want to be getting the results with makes sense. Time for Wii U to continue to be good at that and Gamepad on the go with a power bank or Series S with a screen/power bank due to size factor.

Or a Sony phone with PS branding? it could be a small device for something else. Like Nintendo did their alarm clock. Anything is possible from Sony having TVs/phones/cameras, etc. not just gaming.

No interest in their 1st party IPs, no interest in a handheld with less support anymore because gamers won't support it unless big enough IPs are on it or tolerable to them.

If it were a PS5 screen then maybe sure it'd be something that makes some sense I guess. just not likely those specs maybe.

I would assume not a PS branded remote play/cloud box like Xbox's Keystone and Sony not thinking again on it.

I don't want a big PC like handheld either. But I mean 'possible' but who knows.

If their mobile gaming division aren't good and Portal exists to 'not have anything developed for it just exist', gamers wouldn't support it at enough, or in the company's eyes of enough, why would we trust a new handheld?

Wish fulfillment for no one to really support it again? Even as a Vita/Wii U owner I get by on the Indies/Japanese games but the the many millions of us that did or got to Vita late (I was late to Wii U/Vita/3DS) then yeah the expectations are too high.

What for Indies/Japanese devs to support it like Vita, Sony goes oh the sales, their 1st parties struggle to support it again and they further kill studios. Western 3rd parties continue to not care enough as if their support on Switch isn't a sign with how many mobile ports they could put on Switch regardless of not console scaled games to it let alone more powerful smartphones then more models to support.

I can't wait for that to happen again.

Western third parties jumped on smartphones for a reason. The rest supported phones/3DS/Vita or just those handhelds for those audiences.

Why would I expect Sony to do anything that's more money, less support, and not worth the time/gamers willing enough to support a product either.

Some hardware things they do are fair but some are just a waste or just disappointments.

@Mikey856 yes i have oled steam deck. Yeah some game are perform so worst. My experience is metro exodus. I barely interested with high graphics or triple a game on deck. For heavy graphics game, i have a ps5 for that. Mostly i played classic game,remastered etc on deck

@Bamila Going Zen5 will costs down a little bit and that's what Sony will want even so Zen5 will still be good for another 3 to 5 years just depends on the GPU.

At the moment chip manufacturing is at a high because TSMC are doing it for nearly everyone. Until Intel build those fabs in Texas then it will be who's willing to buy their slot on the production line and then who's willing to pay for the final chip price at the end.

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