The debate over when we will see the launch of the next generation of consoles is heating up as of late, even though the current generation has just received some new, refreshing releases — the PlayStation 5 got its Pro version last year (with titles like Alan Wake 2 and Assassin’s Creed Mirage optimized for its launch), and Microsoft keeps adding new versions (and new services) to its Xbox Series brand.
However, recent comments from both companies suggest that not only an eventual “PlayStation 6” and the “next Xbox” (or whatever it may be called) are certain to come out, their development might be in a high drive state of development.
Granted, neither of them have made any formal announcements besides guaranteeing that yes, they will exist at some point. However, evidence points to both first party manufacturers already doing the extensive part of the research for new tech. So we compiled every bit of evidence we could find below in order to see where we are at, specifically, when it comes to gaming platforms.
Yes, the next generation of consoles is near
We are close to the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox. That is undeniably true in terms of substantial. confirmed, active development: critical timeline markers and official corporate statements point to all of this, as bold as it may sound.
Sony’s own financial reports, released between December 2024 and June 2025, indicated that the PS5 is already in the “latter half” of its lifecycle, a period that historically implies a successor is due within 3 to 4 years. Furthermore, Microsoft has made it unequivocally clear that it is moving “full speed ahead” on its next console, explicitly denying cancellation rumors.
Hell, even Xbox’s lead, Phil Spencer, has promised “more consoles in the future,” suggesting a focus on a true generational leap rather than just mid-gen upgrades. This confirmed level of investment and detailed technical planning for both the PS6 and the next Xbox platforms indicates that the generational shift is now inevitable.
PlayStation 6 (PS6): Sony’s focus will likely leverage AI and performance leadership
Sony has confirmed that consoles remain a strategic priority, though the company has been reserved regarding official PlayStation 6 announcements. Financial reports, however, suggest that planning for the PS6 is “on the top of mind”.
Recent leaks suggest that the PS6 is targeting a late 2027 launch, aligning with the window implied by the PS5 entering the “latter half” of its lifecycle. Development for the PS6 is rumored to have been ongoing for over a year, with parts production potentially beginning in 2026, and the console is described as potentially the “most powerful” of its generation.
Mark Cerny, PlayStation’s lead architect, provided the most detailed official clues (as of October 2025), confirming the console is still “a few years away”. Cerny teased a significant investment in graphical performance innovations using AMD technology — Sony’s longtime partner for these developments — in a recent video published on PlayStation’s official YouTube channel.
These innovations include “Project Amethyst,” which focuses on AI for upscaling and neural processing, “neural arrays” that combine GPU units for efficiency, and the inclusion of AMD’s “Radiance Cores” for advanced ray tracing and path tracing. Furthermore, speculation mentions “PSSR 2.0” for improved upscaling.
Rumors also suggest the PS6 may arrive in variants, with a handful of industry insiders claiming the device will feature a standard console that is more powerful than the PS5, potentially alongside a dockable portable version. The standard console is rumored to cost between $549 and $699, while the portable variant is estimated to be less powerful and potentially priced lower, between $299 and $499.
Both devices are expected to use an AMD chip, and backward compatibility is noted as being of high importance.
The next Xbox will go full speed ahead on ecosystem and compatibility
Microsoft has been more forthcoming with official announcements, explicitly confirming that it is moving “full speed ahead” on the next Xbox, per the brand’s president Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer’s own words — hers, in an internal e-mail obtained by Windows Central. Both of them have affirmed their investment in “first-party consoles and devices”, dismissing rumors that hardware development might be canceled. The rumored launch window for the Next Xbox points to 2026–2027, potentially arriving slightly earlier than the PlayStation 6.
Microsoft is positioning the next Xbox as a generational leap, prioritizing a broad, compatible ecosystem — not a surprise, really, considering the company’s moves on expanding services like Game Pass to focus on integration instead of exclusive fencing.
Much like Sony, the company has confirmed a partnership with AMD to achieve next-level performance and cutting-edge graphics. However, a key directive to Microsoft’s strategy is ensuring full backward compatibility across its brand ecosystem, integrating console, handheld, PC, and cloud platforms. Phil Spencer has even indirectly criticized mid-gen refreshes (like the PS5 Pro), promising “more consoles in the future” and emphasizing a focus on true generational advancements.
The physical format of the Next Xbox remains a point of speculation, generating conflicting rumors: Initial leaks suggested a hybrid, Windows-based console with the capacity for Steam and Epic integration. However, more recent reports suggest Microsoft may revert to a “traditional console” format utilizing a custom AMD SoC. While a handheld device was frequently mentioned, recent rumors suggest this project may have been canceled (however, there’s no reason to believe Microsoft won’t use a third party companies for that, as it does right now with ROG Ally X). Other speculated features include a customizable dashboard and new Game Pass tiers.
Still, let’s hold our “next generation of consoles” horses for a moment
While both Sony and Microsoft confirm active development, it is important to temper our expectations on any talk of “imminent release” of a new generation of consoles. While it is a safe bet that we’ll have more robust news around 2027 (which is less than two years away), it’s likely we’ll see the first news about both projects by then. And between “first news” and “new console launch”, there is a good chunk of time to consider.
Evidently, this is backed up by the fact that both Sony and Microsoft are somewhat cagey when touching this topic: while the official words are out there, they came mostly in the sense of “answering” to rumors, not something proactive.
In other words: it is likely the companies had no intention of talking about this, and only (briefly) did so because the rumors circling around the discussion got bothersome enough.
The industry’s current trajectory, which includes Sony extending the PS5’s lifecycle through mid-gen refreshes (such as the PS5 Pro), suggests a gradual transition rather than a rapid, full generational shift. Microsoft’s indirect criticism of mid-gen refreshes contrasts sharply with Sony’s strategy, raising questions about whether the market is truly ready for a full shift.
Furthermore, the ongoing debate and conflicting rumors — especially in Microsoft’s case and the next Xbox’s alleged format (hybrid vs. traditional console) and the potential cancellation of handheld devices — indicate that strategic and hardware plans are still subject to change.
So, two years from now? Yeah, that’s a projection, not a guarantee.
