PlayStation 6 Orion and Canis handheld codenames leak - Moore's Law Is Dead

Sony’s next-generation PlayStation 6 lineup has been detailed in a new leak, confirming that the system will debut with two AMD-based APUs. According to Moore’s Law is Dead (MLID) via PlayStation Lifestyle, Orion will serve as the main PS6 console chip, while Canis will power a companion handheld device. Both share the same CPU and GPU architecture, allowing Sony to streamline development across both platforms.

The Canis handheld is not a PlayStation 5 derivative, but a core PS6 product. MLID reports that it is designed to play PS4, PS5, and PS6 titles, while offering 1080p and 720p performance modes to serve as both a portable and a compact home console alternative. This strategy could help Sony draw millions of late PS4 adopters into its new ecosystem with a lower-cost entry point.

The recent confirmation of a PS5 power-saving mode, which dynamically reduces performance to lower energy consumption, aligns with earlier MLID claims that this feature would pave the way for Sony’s handheld hardware. The mode’s arrival on PS5 effectively confirms the first element of the PS6 ecosystem shift.

Sony has moved from the Shakespearean-inspired codenames used for PS5 (such as Oberon) to constellation names for PS6, with Orion representing the main console and Canis the handheld. While Sony has not revealed hardware specifications or release timing, MLID states more details, including performance targets and pricing strategies, will be released in the coming months.

The Orion and Canis codenames confirm that PlayStation 6 will be more than a single console, with Sony building a unified home and handheld ecosystem for the next generation. The addition of a portable PS6 could provide Sony with a way to compete across price points and speed up migration from the PS4 era as it moves toward a late-decade launch window.