AMD has reportedly won the battle for Intel’s PS6 chip, meaning the manufacturer will continue to supply Sony with internals for the next-generation console.
That is according to Reuterswho claim in a new PS6 report that AMD has been contracted by Sony to design and manufacture the chip for the next-generation PlayStation console. Sources claim the deal closed in 2022, with AMD winning out in the bidding process against rival chipmaker Intel.
It seems that the decision-making process ultimately came down to both AMD and Intel. However, it’s possible that backwards compatibility for PS6 was the deciding factor.
“The move from AMD, which made the PlayStation 5 chip, to Intel would have introduced a risk of backwards compatibility, which was a topic of discussion between engineers and executives at Intel and Sony,” the report said.
It continues: “Ensuring backwards compatibility with previous versions of the PlayStation would have been expensive and resource-intensive. Allowing PlayStation users to play games they purchased for older systems is a feature Sony often includes in a next-generation system.”
We don’t yet know how much backwards compatibility Sony has planned for the PS6, and that’s likely still a few years away. But the report suggests that Sony is keen to port support for top PS5 games and – hopefully – older generations, including the PS4.
Backwards compatibility aside, sticking with AMD seems like the safe bet here. The California-based manufacturer provided the chips for both the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, so it’s safe to say the company is more comfortable with console hardware.