New PS6 report claims AMD will be designing the console’s chip
Backwards compatibility may have been the deciding factor
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AMDhas allegedly won out againstIntelin thePS6chip battle, meaning the manufacturer will continue to provide Sony with internal components for its next-generation console.
That’s according toReuters, who state in a new PS6 report that AMD has been contracted bySonyfor the design and fabrication of the chip for the next generation of PlayStation console. Sources claim that the deal was secured in 2022, with AMD winning out against rival chip manufacturer Intel in the bidding process.
It seems like the decision making process eventually whittled down to both AMD and Intel. However, it’s possible that backwards compatibility for PS6 may have been the deciding factor.
“Moving from AMD, which made the PlayStation 5 chip, to Intel would have risked backwards compatibility, which was a subject of discussion between Intel and Sony engineers and executives,” says the report.
It continues: “ensuring backward compatibility with prior versions of the PlayStation would have been costly and taken engineering resources. Allowing PlayStation users to play games they have purchased for older systems is a feature Sony often includes in a next-generation system.”
We don’t yet know the extent of Sony’s plans for backwards compatibility on PS6 yet, and we probably won’t for a number of years yet. But according to the report, it seems that Sony is keen to carry over support for thebest PS5 gamesand - hopefully - older generations includingPS4.
Backwards compatibility aside, sticking with AMD seems like the safe bet here. The California-based manufacturer provided the chips for bothPS5and Xbox Series consoles. Thus, it’s safe to say the company is more comfortable with console hardware.
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Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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