PlayStation 6 won’t rely solely on RDNA 5 – rumor
By Anna Brooks
According to insider KeplerL2, the upcoming PlayStation 6 won’t just lean on AMD’s standard RDNA 5 graphics chip. Sony is expected to once again pursue semi-custom hardware solutions, layering their own unique features on top of the base tech. This isn’t just a tech whim – such an approach gives Sony leverage for exclusive capabilities, strong positioning at launch, and tighter control over gaming performance.
What will set the PlayStation 6 GPU apart
Sony has a long history of working with AMD semi-custom chips enhanced with proprietary tweaks. The PS5, for example, was built on AMD architecture but featured unique ray tracing solutions, as well as specialized input-output and decompression units that drastically improved loading times and streaming of game worlds.
If the PS6 does use RDNA 5 as its foundation, it won’t just be a copy of PC or Xbox versions. Sony is likely to add hardware accelerators, modify ray tracing cores, implement dedicated neural units, or introduce other assistive modules to deliver exclusive performance optimizations tailored to its ecosystem and specific game scenarios.
Who benefits? Sony gains powerful tools for a standout launch and competitive edge, AMD secures a major contract with long-term revenue from semi-custom designs. The downside? Some developers will face extra work optimizing for these unique hardware blocks, and PC gamers might see an even bigger gap in experience between consoles and reference GPUs.
For context, Microsoft also partners with AMD but takes a noticeably different route – closer alignment with PC architecture and platform unification across Xbox, PC, and cloud. Sony, meanwhile, continues betting on hardware exclusivity and proprietary SDKs to squeeze maximum performance out of its consoles in gaming scenarios.
Technical market implications: semi-custom design orders increase reliance on AMD and lengthen design cycles. For consumers, this often means a unique gaming experience at the start of a generation but also risks in compatibility and reduced portability of optimizations across platforms.
There’s no official confirmation yet – this remains a rumor. But even as a hint, it’s significant: Sony appears to be doubling down on a strategy that has already brought it an edge. The next steps will be official announcements from Sony or supplier confirmations, which will clarify exactly what hardware differences will truly impact games.
