Future consoles like the PlayStation 6 and the next generation Xbox are either going to have smaller performance gains or significantly higher prices over their predecessor due to a few reasons, as highlighted by some recent comments from a well-known AMD leaker.
Commenting on Sony COO Hiroki Totoki's statement saying that it is harder to grow profits on the PlayStation 5 as the life cycle proceeds compared to previous generation due to parts becoming more expensive as the cycle goes on, known AMD leaker Kepler said that things will only get worse in the future. Cost per transistor remained flat through FinFETs and is set to go up with the transition to GAAFETs/CFETs, essentially signaling the end of free cost savings with simple die shrinks. As such, future consoles will either have increasingly smaller performance gains to keep costs down or significantly higher prices.
Cost per transistor has remained flat through FinFETs and will go up with GAAFETs/CFETs.
The days of free cost savings with die shrinks is over and things will only get worse.
Future consoles will either have increasingly smaller performance gains or significantly higher prices https://t.co/4UZSOzy4sh
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) February 14, 2024
Kepler's comments on future consoles like the PlayStation 6 and the next generation Xbox definitely ring true, especially considering the rumors circulating on the next Microsoft console, which is said to release in two SKUs, one of them a handheld that is obviously going to be less powerful than the main SKU. Sony's next generation console, on the other hand, is apparently planned to be the most powerful console of its generation, so it will be interesting to see how Sony will handle the system's pricing in relation to its capabilities.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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