Anticipated PS6 May Feature AMD Technology

Overview

Sony has launched Project Amethyst, a pioneering collaboration with AMD aimed at advancing machine learning technologies for gaming graphics and other applications.
This partnership intimates that the forthcoming PS6 will leverage AMD’s technology.
A report from September 2024 indicates that Sony has finalized an agreement to have AMD manufacture the APU for the PS6.

Sony’s recent announcement of Project Amethyst marks a significant step forward, suggesting that the PS6 will be built upon advanced technologies developed in partnership with AMD. This collaboration is set to enhance innovations in machine learning, not only for game graphics but potentially for a wide range of applications beyond the PlayStation ecosystem.

The historical partnership between Sony and AMD dates back to the development of the PS4 in the late 2000s, which featured a 28nm accelerated processing unit (APU). This collaboration not only played a crucial role in reviving AMD during its challenging financial period but also helped Sony recover from the struggles of the PS3, its least successful console at the time. They continued this collaborative trend with the PS5, which is powered by a semi-custom APU designed by AMD.

In a recent technical seminar on December 18 at Sony Interactive Entertainment HQ in San Mateo, PlayStation architect Mark Cerny announced the details of the Amethyst initiative. This multi-faceted collaboration aims to achieve two primary objectives: first, to “democratize”machine learning by developing an optimized architecture; and second, to create new convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that enhance graphics rendering. Cerny highlighted that these CNNs could enhance the depth and quality of game graphics while supporting advanced techniques like ray tracing and path tracing.

PS5 Pro Technical Seminar at SIE HQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXMwXJsMfIQ)

Project Amethyst: A Cornerstone for PS6’s Future

Cerny underscored that Project Amethyst is designed to be a long-term alliance, which suggests that the technologies emerging from this initiative may not be available immediately. Consequently, this project is likely a precursor to the PS6’s technological foundation. Given the strategic nature of this R&D endeavor with AMD, it seems highly probable that AMD technology will be at the heart of the next PlayStation console. This hypothesis is reinforced by a September 2024 report claiming a finalized agreement for AMD to design and manufacture the APU for the PlayStation 6.

Key Objectives of Project Amethyst

Develop an improved architecture for machine learning to make advanced tools accessible to a broader developer community.
Create convolutional neural networks aimed at enhancing game graphics and facilitating improved ray and path tracing techniques.

While the Project Amethyst initiative raises the probability of the PS6 leveraging AMD technologies, Cerny clarified that the project’s intent is not limited to proprietary PlayStation technology. Instead, it aims to foster machine learning applications across a diverse range of devices, suggesting potential benefits that could extend far beyond the realm of gaming and into broader technological sectors.

In early February 2024, Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki remarked that the PS5 is currently in “the latter half”of its lifecycle. Given that the PS5 was launched in late 2020, this statement implies that the PS6 could potentially be released by 2028.

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