Sony may be prepping two SoCs for PlayStation 6, sparking hope for a next-gen handheld
Posted by Batattack69@reddit | hardware | View on Reddit | 51 comments
AnthorityR@reddit
I personally couldn’t care less about another handheld by Sony. Steam has that locked in for me. But what could be in the greater interest, is a new tv. I currently run a Sony master series a90k and I love it. But I wish it had a PlayStation built in. They once released a PlayStation tv. Why not build a PS6 tv? The amount of space they’d have to work with, is well beyond the norms for PlayStation.
PorchettaM@reddit
I doubt it would work out. Either they mandate devs support both and end up in the same awful situation Series X & Series S are right now, or they don't and the weaker hardware gets left behind (see also: Sony's flawless 1st party support for the Vita).
Handheld PCs work because of a large existing software library, no particular expectations of support, and not being limited by strict hardware refresh cycles.
Xelanders@reddit
Except that as much some devs might complain, Series S & X still has a majority of support from 3rd parties. The main issue with the Series S is that Xbox sales in general have collapsed in general, leaving the only buyers being hardcore Xbox fans who are more likely to go with the X instead.
The fact is, high end hardware is becoming more expensive and beyond the means of mainstream, non-hardcore gamers. In the PC space people are buying mid-range GPUs and holding onto computer hardware longer then ever before, with true high end cards being sold to only a small minority of consumers (look at the Steam Hardware Survey for example), while many console gamers are holding on to their PS4’s and games are still being developed cross-gen. By the time the PS6 rolls around, PS4 and PS5 level hardware will still be very relevant one way or another whether we like it or not, possibly making a two tier console generation more palatable for developers.
Strazdas1@reddit
Series S has been the reason why some developers did not release on Xbox and continues to be so. Its a terrible abomination whose support requirement was a headache for everyone.
Consoles in general had collapsed sales. Xbox One/PS4 sold 2/3 of what previuos gen did, and SeriesX/S/PS5 has halved that amount yet again. Console ecosystem is collapsing.
Well if we use steam hardware survey, then 4080 sold more than entire AMD lineup did and had almost a third of adoption rate than PS5, so clearly plenty of market for high end hardware.
capybooya@reddit
I'm not that happy with the concept of releasing an 'S' that will compare to last gen and hold back the base of games for a whole generation. But if its needed, I really, really hope they've learned their lesson of not creating headaches for developers by limiting the memory size.
salgat@reddit
The Series S route can work well as long as they don't gimp out on memory. That's usually the hard blocker for devs since other things can be scaled back.
Strazdas1@reddit
Yes. Have weaker GPU/CPU but same memory. That will make it a lot easier to adapt the game down.
Common-Change-7106@reddit
I think the console makers are getting a little lost in the plot as far as what makes consoles a good purchase. And to me it's being relatively cheap and it's simplicity in both making a purchasing decision and simplicity when interacting with the hardware, OS, and software.
They are making consoles too much like enthusiast PCs with having the customer make decisions on which hardware configuration to purchase and now with graphics settings with performance, fidelity and balanced modes being put in games. Imo they need to simplify their offerings so that devs can streamline and focus of optimizing their games around one configuration.
masterfultechgeek@reddit
Steam Deck shows that A LOT of stuff can be played on "not the best" hardware.
Pricing obviously matters but I could imagine a 10 core AMD CPU with a BEEFY iGPU doing AWESOME things in docked mode and OKish things at 1080p upscaled via FSR while portable.
CrimsoniteX@reddit
I kinda saw an Xbox portable as one way to salvage the Series S situation. If such a portable had parity with S hardware, it could justify development efforts towards that target - and users on the Series S would benefit.
Deep_Bicycle3528@reddit
A Series S handheld is a real 4D chess move that might vindicate Microsoft's entire strategy this generation, and may even turn this generation around. But there are 4 huge problems:
1) Miniaturizing the Series S probably won't be viable for another few years. In order to ensure full backwards compatibility with the Series S library, they'll probably need to make the hardware identical. It can't just be equivalent. It'll need day one support for the entire library or devs won't bother with it. In order to get the Series S down to handheld size, they'll need a (very) big battery and a very advanced process node-- probably something like 2nm.
2) Expense. A handheld on a cutting-edge process will be extremely expensive. Like PS5 Pro-level or even more. Apple's M4 chips use TSMC's 3nm node and cost $1000. A Series S handheld would need to use a better node than that.
2) Time. The PS4/Xbone generation was 8 years. We're already halfway through this generation. Microsoft has a very tight window for launch. Something like 2026 would allow for \~2 more years for this generation plus another \~3-4 years for the cross-gen era. It would be perfect, but there's zero evidence they'll be able to do it in a couple of years.
Unfortunately, as great an idea as it is, I just don't think they can pull it off.
OSUfan88@reddit
When they originally announced the Series S, I assumed that was their plan.
scytheavatar@reddit
Most of the games released for the PS6 will be coming out for the PS5 too, just look at how many PS5 era games still support the PS4. No reason why a PS Deck can't play 90% of the games on the PS6.
Brave-Tangerine-4334@reddit
I think the main thing is, this doesn't work alongside handheld PCs because Steam has already made them cheap a.f. and ticks every single box: compatibility repair-ability, great games, great game prices. The bar is very high now.
littleemp@reddit
Same amount of memory and a CPU that isnt completely gimped is all you need. Handheld graphical requirements can be scaled down with resolution.
reddit_equals_censor@reddit
unlike microsoft xbox, sony generlaly isn't dumb in regards to gaming hardware.
sony could have the handheld be a oneclick or almost mode for the ps6 games.
instead of the game running at let's say close to 4k uhd 60 fps on the ps6, the game would run at 1080p on the handheld and maybe at 40-60 fps with vrr.
if the handheld had the same unified memory amount, it could run the same games with very little effort.
in comparison the xbox series s doesn't have enough memory and it only has 1/4 the power of the xbox series s.
if the ps6 handheld had 1/2 the gpu power, but the same amount of memory, then that would already run fine at less than 1/2 the render resolution and potentially lower fps as well.
and the handheld could then just play all of the ps5 games, ps4 games probably too and almost all ps6 games, if sony lets devs choice whether they want to release on the handheld or not.
they could also just enforce it, that both have to release if a game is made, but probably leaving it ot the devs and making it extremely easy would be more than enough.
so i'd say it CAN be done right and microsoft's decision to create the insult of the xbox series s shouldn't be seen as how things will turn out.
BoatAggression@reddit
I know it'll be semicustom and it'll be better than anything currently available on consumers... But 12CUs in AMD's current batch of RDNA 3 APUs isn't exactly making me optimistic.
reddit_equals_censor@reddit
the 12cu rdna3 apus are a bad comparison.
for one they are MASSIVELY bandwidth starved.
and a semi custom design with whatever memory controller you want could be free from such issue.
so a not bandwidth starved rdna5 or udna or whatever apu with a 256 bit of lpddr6 i guess and actually targeting to play all ps6 games and ps5 games well in a handheld at 1080p certainly seems possible.
__
if you wanna see an example of how bandwidth starved those apus are. strix halo uses a 256 bit bus custom, because the 128 bit standard bus would destroy its performance.
Winter_2017@reddit
I would love a new PSP. A pocketable steamdeck type device would be a must buy.
rynoweiss@reddit
Highly doubt we're seeing anything smaller than the Switch. The Portal, Steam Deck, and leaks about Switch 2 all point to handhelds getting bigger.
It's not just that people now expect larger form factors and higher resolution screens, modern chips are power hungry and require big batteries and large fans.
Virtual_Sundae4917@reddit
Youre right phones have only gotten bigger since the ps vita same with consoles switch is the limit in size
Darkknight1939@reddit
The biggest phones have actually gotten smaller. We never got a flagship in the US with the same dimensions as the Z Ultra from 2013.
tukatu0@reddit
Meh. Even the iphone ultras super dupers aren't bigger then a ps vita. Screenwise sure. But it's not like you are using it all when playing a game
Virtual_Sundae4917@reddit
They are quite a bit bigger because of the screen there are no controllers
tukatu0@reddit
Yeah and you block 1/10th of that screen at all times with your fingers. The ui itself another 5% not necessary with a controller.
Virtual_Sundae4917@reddit
On a console youd have controllers making it bigger
Frothar@reddit
even just ergonomically the PSP was too small. I found the tiny thumbstick really uncomfortable
Verite_Rendition@reddit
The big issue there is that it wasn't a stick to begin with. It was a slider.
The Vita had actual sticks (plural, even!), and those were rather comfortable.
bitbitter@reddit
I use my old PSP Go as a controller for PC sometimes and that thumb slider is one of the most unergonomic painful things I've used, crazy that I used it for so many years as a kid.
XenonJFt@reddit
We might get something to rival the Switch. Cause rest handhelds are open ecosystem with steam liberties of a mini PC. Sony won't let that happen.
Present_Bill5971@reddit
There was actually a PC handheld with a 7840u that had a limited 405grams version, about the same weight as a Nintendo Switch OLED. Really expensive though. Ayaneo Air 1S. Good future preview though for future PC handhelds that match/exceed a Steam Deck but weigh way less
conquer69@reddit
Not even phones are pocketable anymore.
someguy50@reddit
What kind of pockets do you guys have?
panckage@reddit
There is the retroid pocket 5. Quite a bit of competition in this space these days. We are even getting square oled screens which is the most exciting for me.
lifestealsuck@reddit
They dont even have enough studio to output Game for the console ONLY...
Present_Bill5971@reddit
I doubt handheld. I think Microsoft had the right idea with the Series S just made the wrong compromise. Memory seems to have been the issue. Sacrifice GPU but not CPU and memory. Price cuts are a thing of the past and loads of people are still playing their PS4. I think the PS5 will be even stickier than the PS4. Series S wouldn't be as much of an issue if the whole Series Xbox consoles weren't selling so far behind PlayStation. I imagine the past year being way worse than the first 3 years. How it is now, the development resources aren't worth spending on Xbox platform quirks. It would be for the dominant console
Disregardskarma@reddit
Is it really an issue? There’s been one game that was delayed with that as an official issue.
Present_Bill5971@reddit
Thinking again, the Series S isn't a problem. It's a good idea just on an unpopular console. People are playing all the latest games on handheld PCs
vanguarde@reddit
sss类是女 f孩kkkaz，
ResponsibleJudge3172@reddit
Doubt it's handheld. Likely an evolution of PSVR to support standalone mode
Gurashish1000@reddit
Considering how they have supported their vr headset, don't get your hopes up too high.
kotori_mkii@reddit
As much of a PSP fan as I was, I can't see how this could possibly work. If it's an actual psp size device, I can't imagine they'd be able to find very many devs to work on it. Also the psvita supported a lot of ps1 games that were purchasable on ps3 as well. They abandoned support on those and now you have to buy some kind of subscription to get a much smaller library. Like how in the world would they convince people that were already abandoned to come back.
If it's switch/steam deck size device asking everyone to buy digital copies of their physical ps4 games to play on the go is ridiculous but also kind of up Sony's alley. Once again with how they abandoned the ps3 and psvita digital stores, I don't see how anyone could trust Sony.
DerpSenpai@reddit
A new PSP would be a Steam deck size, or PS Portal size
Honestly, if I was Sony, with the tech on the market right now, i would do a Occulink setup. fat CPU on the handheld with decent GPU (PS5 like) but docked would have a full fat PS5 Pro like GPU
When the PS6 would be released most likely we would be in 2nm territory, idk if the base PS6 will outdo the PS5 tbh
Maleficent-Salad3197@reddit
Two different versions of Stalker SOC would be a good idea but as Sony usually screws up I doubt thats whats up. In fact was a joke😜
billie_eyelashh@reddit
Its great to have another option for a playstation console. Market is probably shifting more to PC gaming so betting on a handheld device at the same time would be nice.
techraito@reddit
It has to be done right, because the Steam Deck and it's library and support set a really high fucking bar. Constant quality of life changes and they actually do read the community feedback. Idek if Sony has ever done that once.
HeroYouKey_SawAnon@reddit
A Sony portable doesn't necessarily have to compete with the Steam Deck, kinda like how the Deck and Switch don't overlap much.
Tasty-Traffic-680@reddit
Except when you're emulating the switch on the steam deck...
reddit_equals_censor@reddit
also crucially having a sony playstation handheld would give people more believe in the sony walled garden.
just like the steamdeck made people more likely to buy stuff on steam.
so it could help prevent people going to pc i guess.
reddit_equals_censor@reddit
it will be interesting to see how a COMPETENT gaming hardware company will approach this.
we saw in comparison the xbox series s fail.
it failed in the way, that developers don't want to program for that thing, but all games need to release on it.
and games run like utter shit on it.
if sony has the 2 apus close enough and both having the same amount of unified memory, then getting a game to run on both apus may take minimal work or 0 work potentially by the devs.
literally hitting a switch basically to have it run in "ps6 full" or "ps6 handheld" mode.
and of course the gaming library would be fully shared among the ps6, ps6 handheld and the ps5 and potentially ps4 too i guess.
that would be the move.
and performance wise that should be fine to do i'd say due the much lower resolution, that a handheld would be running at.
and the handheld could also do ok docked one could guess with pssr upscaling being good enough to get a (console level) ok 4k uhd output from a 1080p source or whatever.
the ps3 was the last time, that developing for a playstation device i believe was extremely hard.
the ps4 was very easy and the ps5 is also extremely easy.
so the guess, that sony will give it the same unified memory amount and enough power to not hold back developers would make a lot of sense.
given sony gamers the steamdeck experience, but different.
Spiritual-Compote-18@reddit
PSP 2 tge handheld market is where it is hame anywhere any time will be too good to psst up