The next generation of Xbox and PlayStation may not be boring in the Switch 2 era

Let’s forget that mud happens when someone brings two large console manufacturers without big “N”. Instead, let’s ask a simple question: What do we really want from the next generation of Xbox or PlayStation? The latest rumors suggest 2026 could be a big year for Microsoft and Sony, as both can pull out new consoles using PC-grade graphics features and a handheld gaming platform to compete with the Steam Deck and Switch 2.

First, let’s take a look at what we know, what we don’t know, and what was wasted by casual rumor factories. Sony hasn’t yet provided tips for the next-generation PlayStation device, although Microsoft has effectively confirmed that there is a new Xbox console coming. Sony won’t fall behind. Trusted rumors from sites like Windows Central mention Microsoft is developing its own Steam Deck-type handheld device, but has pushed it to 2026. Meanwhile, our first taste of Xbox branded hardware will appear in the form of ASUS on Rog Xbox Ally and Xbox ally Xbox Ally ally X.

According to the usually reliable leaker “Moore’s Law is Dead”, Xbox may storm a brand new console in 2026. The new console, codenamed “Magnus”, will be reportedly using AMD’s latest Zen 6 CPU microarchitecture along with the new RDNA 5 graphics capabilities. Without actual specs, we can’t say how good it will be, but “Moore’s Law is Dead” suggests that the Xbox targets twice the graphics performance of the PlayStation 5 Pro. It may have ray tracing, which can provide more realistic lighting in the game and graphics performance up to 120 fps at 4K resolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1zzcdww5pm

The next-generation Xbox GPU mentioned by the leaker may have 68 compute units, the core cluster that usually defines AMD processor capabilities. The assumed specification says the chip will be a 3NM processor with a 192-bit GDDR7 memory bus, which could be a fast and efficient chip for console gaming. “Moore’s Law is Dead” mentions that it can provide performance comparable to the NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 5080, but we highly doubt that users can expect performance with these specifications equals the performance of a PC. AMD’s FSR 4 upgrade. Compared to earlier versions of AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, the latest version is proprietary technology for AMD chips, which adopts the frame at lower resolutions and massages it to look higher resolutions, providing better performance.

Playstation’s chief architect Mark Cerny said Sony plans to bring the FSR 4 to the PlayStation 5 Pro. The PS5 with an upgraded GPU may just be a speed limit for what is about to happen. Several reports indicate that PlayStation is making handheld with PlayStation 6, which the player calls “Project Orion.” Previous rumors suggest that the PS6 is functionally complete, although it will appear in 2026 or 2027. We don’t know yet whether PlayStation is working with AMD to use similar chip microarchitectures of its console, but handheld computers may be able to play PS5 games at lower power. Last week, Sony introduced a console update that enabled power savings mode. This change has sparked disputes among leakers, which will be the technology that handheld runs at lower resolutions and saves battery.

Imagine if the next generation PlayStation and Xbox offer a PC-like experience without the blunt fee of a modern gaming PC. Xbox president Sarah Bond has proposed that Microsoft’s gaming division is making something that feels more like a PC. Sony will still be subject to greater restrictions given its love for an exclusive ecosystem, but even that is slowly changing. Sony has pushed most of its high-profile games to PC. PlayStation’s work list shows that Sony wants to bring its games to Xbox and Nintendo consoles. The end result is that more games can be used on both platforms.

Even if these devices are cheaper than third-party PCs, they may not be cheaper. The Xbox Series X and PS5 are already pushing the boundaries of what players are willing to pay. The $700 PS5 Pro initially sold well, but reportedly lagged behind the PS4 Pro, according to industry analyst Mat Piscatella. How much are players really willing to pay? If the 2026 consoles cost more, they will make the $450 Switch 2 look like a bargain. According to Piscatella analyst Circana, Nintendo’s sequel switch has become the fastest gaming console ever in U.S. history.

At least, next year’s hardware version will be far from boring.