Sony PS6: Leaker predicts "we won't measure PS6 with last-gen metrics" and over 10x increase in ray tracing performance

Noted video game journalist Destin Legarie has called the Sony PlayStation 6’s proposed graphical performance leap into question. He opines on X that “if the PS5 is still pacing 2-3M behind PS4 global sales (that price hike won’t help), next-gen won’t be some mega graphical leap”. He also thinks that “most people aren’t in a rush for a $1,000 PS6 or Xbox Helix. It’s a complicated question all console manufacturers need to consider”.

This is a valid proposition, as the recent increase in the price of the Sony PlayStation 5 consoles is a side effect of the global DRAM and storage supply crunch. The situation is likely to remain the same until at least 2028, according to many reports. So, it could be argued that Sony might cut down on raw horsepower to make the PS6 and PS6 Portable more affordable.

Moore’s Law Is Dead has issued a response to Destin’s assertions. The leaker counters that the next-gen “will be a massive graphical leap”. The ray tracing performance, in particular, is set to see a major boost, as MLID claims that we will see “over a 10-fold increase in Ray Tracing”.

Aside from ray tracing, MLID contends that AI will also see a “multiple magnitudes increase” in the next-gen consoles, including the PS6. This is quite important as AI performance directly correlates to the performance of machine learning-based image reconstruction techniques like PSSR and PSSR2. Sony will likely leverage the enhanced ML performance of the PS6 to deliver a new update to the already quite impressive PSSR 2.

Sony PS6 and Xbox Helix should focus on high-refresh-rate gaming

We now have plenty of hardware reports to see that the PS6 and the next-gen Xbox Helix will likely deliver massive boosts in graphical and AI performance. This increased horsepower could result in bigger, more detailed, and more interactive game worlds. However, what we would like to see more of is for developers to put the added muscle of the PS6 and next-gen Xbox towards stable and higher frame rates. 

When they were first unveiled, current gen consoles promised 4K at 60 FPS and even 120 FPS gameplay. But few games have managed to do this at a commendable level. For the most part, most AAA games still offer a 4K/30 FPS “Quality” mode and sacrifice graphics to hit 60 FPS in the “Performance” mode. A stable 120 FPS mode is considerably rarer to see.

MLID contends that “we won't measure PS6 with last-gen metrics”. What this tells us is that the true potential of next-gen games on the PS6 and next Xbox could be high-refresh-rate gaming without visual sacrifices.

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