Sony confirms PS6 will go ‘beyond the living room’ amid handheld rumours

PlayStation’s CEO has once again teased that Sony’s PS6 will have a portable offshoot, as they ‘evaluate’ their approach to the console’s price. 

Sony hasn’t confirmed anything about its next generation console plans yet, but a stack of rumours and teasers suggest it will have a handheld component. 

The big question is what form this handheld will take – whether it’s a streaming device like the PS Portal, a standalone system like the PS Vita, or a hybrid akin to the Nintendo Switch. 

Sony hasn’t given any clarification on this topic, but it has emphasised how the PlayStation 6 will go ‘beyond the living room’ in a new Q&A. 

Speaking in a newly published Q&A with investors, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino was asked how PlayStation plans to bring back players who migrated to PC during lockdown, at which point he began talking about trying to break away from the living room. 

‘PlayStation has long been strongly associated with the idea of playing in the living room,’ Nishino said. ‘However, in recent years, more users globally have been using personal monitors. In response, we are selling peripherals such as monitors and speakers to break away from the fixed perception that ‘PlayStation equals the living room’ and to broaden usage scenarios.

‘For the next generation platform, rather than simply serving as an alternative to PCs, we aim to deliver value that is unique to PlayStation. This includes not only technological advancements but also an expansion of usage styles, enabling a seamless experience that can be enjoyed naturally beyond the living room.’

Unless these ‘usage styles’ relate to some kind of PlayStation dishwasher, the only reasonable assumption is that he’s talking about a portable device.

In the same Q&A, Nishino discussed the price of its next generation device, where he implied that – taking into account rumours about PlayStation 6 hardware costs – it will be an expensive piece of kit. 

‘As for pricing, it is not realistic for us to absorb all component cost increases, and we have already implemented some price increases outside Japan,’ he added. ‘At present, however, sales are proceeding as planned, and we do not believe this has led to a decline in customer demand. 

‘As a principle, we do not intend to sell hardware at significant losses. At the same time, we are carefully monitoring the market and continuing to evaluate our approach. We believe it is important for us to make every effort to ensure that customers fully understand the value we provide in relation to pricing.’

If Sony doesn’t plan to sell the PlayStation 6 at a ‘significant loss’, the fact that the raw materials allegedly cost £730 (without manufacturing, marketing, and other costs), it certainly sounds like the console’s price could balloon towards £1,000 in the UK.

The other key talking point is the role of AI in PlayStation’s future, and Nishino explained how it is being used to detect ‘fraudulent activities’ on the PlayStation Store. 

‘With the introduction of AI, we are now able to analyse data at scale much more quickly, and we are seeing strong progress in advancing data utilisation,’ Nishino added. ‘Additionally, transaction volume in the PlayStation Store is enormous. Thus, when fraudulent activities result in refunds, the financial impact can be very significant. 

‘Currently, AI engines are being used to assess transaction reliability with a high degree of sophistication, contributing to the prevention of fraud. Going forward, our focus is on providing a platform that enables creators to monetise more effectively and efficiently.’

In terms of game development, Nishino states Sony is using AI for placeholder assets (which we’ve seen backfire many times already with other developers), while emphasising a push for ‘AI-first initiatives’. 

He added: ‘As a creative entertainment company, we prioritise our creators, with AI enhancing their work by removing repetitive tasks and enabling faster iteration and higher-quality outputs, such as through the use of synthetic assets, including synthetic voices, as early placeholders. 

‘This is less about cost efficiency and more about improving quality and development speed, which we see as highly valuable. For many years, AI has been deeply embedded in our development processes, and we are increasingly seeing its impact on more immersive in-game experiences, where characters and worlds are enhanced by AI capabilities.

‘At the same time, we are experimenting at a more fundamental level with smaller, AI-first initiatives, while remaining realistic about near-term efficiency gains. These efforts position us to stay at the forefront as AI continues to evolve, both in development processes and in shaping future player experiences.’

Nishino has made similar statements before, and as this is aimed at investors, who always like to hear about companies using AI, it’s difficult to assess how serious these comments are. At face value though, the prospect of any ‘AI first initiatives’ is certainly concerning. 

Despite the memory crisis, Sony’s PlayStation 6 is still expected to launch sometime in 2027, although we’ll have to see if it will be able to justify its inevitably high price.

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