Katarzyna Petru
Rumours about the next generation of consoles are starting to pick up pace – more and more sources indicate that both PlayStation 6 and the new Xbox will hit the market in 2027.
AMD back in the spotlight
Both Sony and Microsoft have already confirmed that their next consoles will be based on AMD chips. This means a continuation of the x86 architecture, which will ensure straightforward backward compatibility with games from PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, and Xbox One. However, this doesn't mean that all titles will work perfectly right away – many of them will require optimisation on the developers' side.
PlayStation 6: Project “Orion” and handheld “Canis”
According to well-known leakers Moore’s Law is Dead and KeplerL2, PlayStation 6 is set to debut in autumn 2027, unless Sony's plans change.
Mark Cerny – the lead architect of the PlayStation system – recently confirmed that the new console is on the way:
“This is still a very early phase, most of these technologies exist only in simulations. However, the results are promising and I can’t wait to implement them in the future console over the next few years.”
Cerny referred to the project ‘Project Amethyst’, which introduced the technology PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) known from the PS5 Pro. It is set to be replaced by a new version in 2026.
PS6 will feature three key technologies:
Neural Arrays – grouping graphic cores for greater AI power,
Radiance Cores – dedicated hardware for realistic lighting and ray/path tracing,
Universal Compression – data compression sent to the GPU, enhancing performance and reducing power consumption.
PS6 is expected to retain an optional disc drive, while Sony is simultaneously developing the handheld codenamed “Canis”, which is to be part of the same generation.
New Xbox: project “Magnus”
After rumours about Microsoft's alleged departure from physical consoles, the company denied these reports on 5 October:
“We are actively investing in future consoles and devices designed and built by the Xbox team.”
According to Moore’s Law is Dead, the new Xbox codenamed “Magnus” is also set to debut in 2027 and – like the PS6 – is expected to use new AMD chipsets with Zen 6 architecture and RDNA 5. Rumours also suggest over 30 GB of GDDR7 memory, even four times higher AI performance, and native 4K at 120 Hz in many games.
7 years later – the classic console life cycle
If these predictions hold true, the year 2027 will mark exactly a seven-year console cycle, just like previous generations.
PS6 and the new Xbox are expected to stick with PC architecture, while the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to use an ARM chip from Nvidia, typical for mobile devices.
Though technical details remain uncertain, one thing seems clear – the next generation of consoles is set to deliver a massive leap in AI, graphics, and performance.
