PS6 and Xbox 'Prime' rumored to target 2027 release with AMD Zen 6 and RDNA 5 hardware in tow

Recent scoops from industry insiders suggest that both Sony and Microsoft are preparing for a 2027 release for their next-generation consoles, the PlayStation 6 and successor to the Xbox Series S|X, potentially setting the stage for another head-to-head launch and the next wave of console wars.

According to a reliable leaker known for their insights on AMD hardware, KeplerL2 states that Sony’s PlayStation 6 is set for a 2027 debut in a NeoGAF thread discussing Sony and AMD’s Project Amethyst showcase.

KeplerL2 highlighted that a 2027 release is “not just on the table, it’s the plan unless any unexpected delays happen.” This is pretty much in line with Sony’s typical seven-year console cycle, following the PS5’s launch in 2020.

Earlier, PlayStation architect Mark Cerny recently commented that new technology would arrive in “a few years,” which some interpreted as 2028, but insiders have now clarified that it points to 2027. The leaks also suggest that the PS6’s reported Zen 6/gfx13 SoC is in pre-silicon testing, backing up the leaks and timeline.

Moving on to Team Green, Microsoft hardware insider, “Moore’s Law is Dead,” revealed in a recent YouTube video that the next Xbox, codenamed either Xbox Prime or Project Magnus, featuring the AMD Magnus APU, is also targeting a 2027 launch.

MLID claims that the Magnus APU combines Zen 6 CPU architecture with RDNA 5 graphics, delivering 110 TOPS from its NPU. This positions the reportedly upcoming console as a hybrid device capable of going toe-to-toe with PC gaming. In a separate NeoGAF thread, KeplerL2 confirmed the hardware specs for Project Magnus.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Microsoft is openly discussing the 2027 window with its partners. The APU is described as the ‘largest ever’ in a console, 46% bigger than the PS6’s equivalent. This could make the Xbox beefier in the hardware department but also more expensive at launch.

This could result in a price point higher than the PS6’s estimated $549 for a standard edition and $499 for a digital version, based on speculative concepts.

Furthermore, the PS6 rumors also extend to a potential handheld variant with docking functionality similar to the Nintendo Switch, as mentioned in an earlier MLID video. However, details remain scarce, so one should take this rumor with a grain of salt, especially given how rapidly things can change during the development of yet-unannounced product lines.

Microsoft, on the other hand, is leaning toward a console-PC hybrid, enabling it to run more than just Xbox apps and the dashboard. It integrates larger RAM capacity and a “bridge die” design to connect multiple chiplets, similar to what we’ve seen in Intel’s Panther Lake architecture.

So far, neither Sony nor Microsoft has confirmed these details, leaving room for speculation open. However, both have acknowledged ongoing work on next-gen hardware in partnership with AMD. On the other end of the spectrum, a large segment of gamers remains skeptical about the need for next-gen hardware so soon after the release of the PS5 Pro.