As the PlayStation 5 continues its life cycle, eyes are gradually turning to the next generation. If Sony remains silent on the PS6, the rumors are intensifying, fueled by a newcomer in the arena: Valve’s Steam Machine. And the latter could well offer Sony a golden opportunity.
Valve has confirmed that “the Steam Machine will be priced much closer to that of a gaming PC than a home console”, with an estimate of around £700. On the other hand, PlayStation could be content to maintain its current model: a high-performance console, at a competitive price, without ambitions of total fusion with the PC universe. This simple positioning would be enough to place it in an advantageous situation.
A Sony strategy that pays without forcing
With an omnipresent Game Pass and ever-deeper integrations between Xbox and the PC ecosystem, Microsoft seems to be moving away from the traditional console model. Rumors even mention a “premium” Xbox, at double the price. Enough to blur the lines between consoles and computers, but also to discourage consumers on a tight budget.
In this context, “PlayStation finds itself in an incredible position without having to do anything.” By keeping a console below the £700 mark, Sony could become the only manufacturer to offer a real affordable alternative against two more elite competitors.
And even in the scenario of a PS6 Pro, analysts estimate that a price located “between £600 and £700” would remain “probably much cheaper than a Steam Machine”, with comparable technical performance, or even superior according to the first specifications.
A release planned for 2028, barring any surprises
Despite the excitement of rumors, consumers still have time to see it coming. Sony has indeed announced that it “does not plan to release a new console before at least 2028, or even 2029”. Until then, the evolution of the price of components, particularly RAM, will play a key role. If the market stabilizes, Sony will be able to aim for a reasonable price and maintain its pricing advantage.
And if, on the contrary, prices soar, the company could be forced to review its ambitions. For the moment, however, it remains the only one not to venture into the risky territory of €1,000 hardware, which could attract a large number of players in an uncertain economic context.