The PlayStation 5 is less than a year old, but Sony is already planning to release a new version of the next-gen console by 2022.
This is according to a new report from DigiTimes, which claims to have heard from "industry sources" that Sony is gearing up to manufacture units in the second and third quarter of 2022. The new version of the hardware apparently won't be drastically different from its predecessor, instead focusing on a slightly reworked internal design.
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DigiTimes suggests that Taiwanese tech company TSMC is working on a "new semi-customised" 6nm chip for the system, replacing the 7nm chip that exists in current PlayStation 5 models. Again, this is unlikely to make any significant changes to the console's exterior, but will grant benefits such as an improved power draw.
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While this has yet to be confirmed by Sony, it's certainly not unusual for a company to roll out a new and slightly improved model. The Nintendo Switch has the Switch Lite, the PlayStation 4 has Slim and Pro models. Heck, even the Xbox Series X launched alongside the Xbox Series S. Variety is the spice of life.
Even if the new model is more of a subtle reworking than a brand-new edition, Sony has a history of this. Not long after the PlayStation 4 launched, the company made a series of small, imperceptible changes to reduce the console's overall weight before the PS4 Slim and Pro models offered consumers something tangibly new.
In this instance, it's likely that Sony is making these changes to the PlayStation 5's internals in an effort to cut costs and increase production. The semiconductor shortage isn't going away anytime soon, and Sony has said on multiple occasions it's going to struggle to meet demand for most of 2021. Hopefully this slightly re-worked new model will be a turning point.
Featured Image Credit: SonyTopics: PlayStation 5, GAMING, News