Fresh PS6 handheld rumors relating to RAM configurations are making the rounds, with reports hinting at a 24GB configuration. That would put the PS Vita successor on an even footing with the Xbox Ally X when it comes to memory, but I'm naturally worried that we're in for some stomach-churning price tags.
Over on NeoGAF, KeplerL2 suggests PS6 portable and console RAM will be "24GB and 30GB" when asked what would be "good amounts" for the next-gen system. While it's widely understood that Sony will step back into the best gaming handheld ring with a device using LPDDR5X modules, just like the ROG Xbox Ally X, the main system will apparently opt for a "clamshell 3GB" approach.
For those of you understandably unacquainted with memory configurations, that alludes to the PS6 using 3GB GDDR7 modules on a 160-bit bus. The latter width is notably reduced compared to the PS5 Pro's 256GB setup, but faster 32 Gbps modules will ultimately help it achieve faster 640GB/s bandwidth speeds compared to 576 GB/s via GDDR6.
It's admittedly the "clamshell" part that's got me worried about pricing, rather than the total PS6 30GB RAM itself. To my understanding, using two memory modules on one 32 Gbps bus is more expensive, but it is a tactic used to double a system's total capacity. Basically, smooshing the 3GB chips together brings the PS6's theoretical memory up from 15GB.
Considering that 16GB is becoming a minimum system requirement for new games on PC, it's easy to see why Sony would want to hit nearly double that figure. Yes, consoles and the best gaming PCs are becoming more reliant on AI upscaling tools, and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) will likely do some heavy lifting in the next generation. However, the next-gen system should really be aiming for 4K 120fps without much compromise, especially if it wants to make the Steam Machine and its 4K 60fps performance goals look silly.
Circling back to the PS6 handheld, and while 24GB should be plenty, it does suggest that the next "PSP" will be pretty similar to current options. Sony could push the boat out and target 32GB RAM specs found in other premium portables, like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, and the higher capacity would help with higher resolutions and hybrid TV play. That said, Sony might end up taking the same approach as the Vita, neglecting video output or compatibility with docks, instead pointing you towards its accompanying home system.
As always, I'd crack some salt over these PS6 rumors, but it's also hard to get excited about next-gen whispers given the current pricing situation. Sony will no doubt be trying to hit a very specific MSRP, and I do think it will have to aim for less than the PS5 Pro if it wants to keep the console market from descending into expensive irrelevancy. My fear is that if making at-home hardware leads to unaffordable price points, the industry will try to pitch "games as a service" even harder by switching to cloud streaming (looking at you, PlayStation Portal), which would result in an erosion in ownership when it comes to software and hardware.
Of course, if the so-called RAMageddon happening right now subsides, and the Steam Machine encourages Microsoft to actually push Xbox as a console competitor yet again, we might end up with a return to form in the next generation. Right now, all we can do is hope pricing doesn't spiral completely out of control as we sail into the next generation, and the fact that we're talking about rumored memory configurations is perhaps a sign that Sony is trying to come up with solutions.
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