The PS6 could lean more heavily on AI to improve image quality.
Speaking to Digital Foundry, lead PS5 and PS5 Pro architect Mark Cerny teased that machine learning-based frame generation is coming to “PlayStation platforms” in the future. While he didn’t specifically mention the PS6, his comments certainly suggest that.
It should be noted that frame generation is somewhat controversial where it’s used on PC. While AI can be used to generate new frames in addition to the ones actually being rendered to create an arguably smoother image quality, this practice can also introduce lag.
Beyond potentially being a nuisance in general, this can be a particular problem in fast, reaction-based action games that might enable frame generation by default on PC. Some have criticized games like Black Myth: Wukong for using frame generation, noting it created some latency issues that made players take damage. This has led some people to refer to this practice as “fake frames.”
Of course, we’re still quite a ways off from the PS6, which Sony hasn’t even officially unveiled yet. While some have expected it to come in 2027 to follow the seven-year cadence between the PS4 and PS5, reports have indicated that the global chip shortage could lead Sony to release the next-gen console in 2028 at the earliest.
It also remains to be seen what Xbox will do with its own next-gen console, codenamed Project Helix. AMD recently suggested that the system will come in 2027, but of course, Microsoft isn’t immune to overall market instability, either, and might also push back those plans.
Image credit: PlayStation
Source: Digital Foundry
