Rumors of a next-gen PlayStation handheld are making the rounds yet again, and I'll admit that they include some exciting performance details. The short of it is that the PS6 portable could outpace the Xbox Series S and even the yet-to-be-announced Steam Deck 2. Just don't expect the latter devices to clash on the best gaming handheld battlefield any time soon, as we're talking at least 2028 before anything arrives.
In a Neogaf thread, well-known hardware leaker KeplerL2 says the PlayStation handheld GPU is "a bit ahead of the XSS [Xbox Series S] in raster" while also being "massively ahead" when it comes to path tracing (via Videocards). This isn't a massive shocker, considering Microsoft's box uses an RDNA 2 GPU from six years ago, but it does illustrate where portable performance could soon sit compared to current-gen consoles.
When asked whether Sony's AI upscaling solution, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), will be much better than the version of Nvidia's DLSS 2 used by the Switch 2, KeplerL2 explained that Nintendo's adopted upscaler uses older Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models, whereas "FSR5/PSSR3 will be better IQ [image quality] than even current DLSS 4.5."
The fact that the conversation surrounding the PlayStation handheld turned so quickly towards AI upscaling suggests the portable will heavily rely on AMD's FSR 4 and PSSR. That's nothing new, seeing as the Steam Deck OLED uses current versions of the tech to get by, and more recent rivals like the ROG Xbox Ally X are tapping into neural processor tricks like Auto Super Resolution for DirectX games.
The parts of this latest round of rumors are the bits that tie to the Steam Deck 2. When asked if the sequel portable would be ready in time for the PlayStation handheld's arrival, the leaker simply answered "Nope." The insider then elaborated by saying, "they [Valve] were targeting a 2028 release date AFAIK, but the whole RAM/NAND situation could delay it."
Yes, RAMageddon is once again rearing its ugly head to spoil next-gen tech plans, but the leaker optimistically points out that since Valve "doesn't have a semi-custom SoC" it could end up with better specs "unlike the PS6/Xbox if it gets delayed." Effectively, the Steam Deck 2 could use any pushback to better match the PlayStation handheld and give it some healthy competition, and if it can stick to roughly the same price as the current portable, that could encourage easier-to-digest MSRPs across the scene.
As always, take all of these PlayStation handheld and Steam Deck 2 rumors with a big grain of salt, as nothing is official as of yet. Even if both companies do have big portable plans, component shortages sparked by AI datacenter demand are a metaphorical spanner in the works of every big release right now, and Valve really has to deal with getting the Steam Machine out the door before even thinking about new handhelds.
Don't get me wrong, I'm buzzing at the thought of a proper handheld that's more like the PS Vita than the online-reliant PlayStation Portal, but let's maybe focus on not letting AI eviscerate gaming hardware options via absurd price increases, eh?
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