Report: PS6 Handheld May Use Custom AMD RDNA 5 Chip

Digital Foundry says a possible PlayStation 6 handheld could use a custom chip built on AMD's RDNA 5 architecture, and that Sony has taken a direct role in its development. The report, led by senior analyst Richard Leadbetter, appears in an episode of DF Direct and in related posts on Reddit.

According to the coverage, backchannel negotiations and insider information point to Sony securing some form of exclusivity for RDNA 5 on handheld devices. That exclusivity is not described as absolute. Sources suggest it would most likely be limited to a fully custom silicon design or to particular features of that design, with finer details still unknown.

Market analysts note that AMD typically does not shoulder independent development costs for niche custom chips. Companies that want bespoke processors generally must either fund development themselves or commit to large production volumes. Reports imply Sony may be financing the custom design for its handheld, which would enable proprietary AMD technology tailored to that device.

If the rumors prove accurate, a PlayStation 6 handheld could become one of the few portable consoles fitted with a custom RDNA 5 chip. That architecture could meaningfully boost graphical performance, AI-driven workloads and ray tracing capabilities. Exactly which RDNA 5 features would be enabled, and how they would differ from chips used by competing manufacturers, remain unsettled.

Background

The suggested Sony AMD partnership is not new. The two companies previously unveiled Project Amethyst, an initiative focused on AI-driven graphics. Still, past collaboration alone does not verify claims of an exclusive RDNA 5 arrangement for a Sony handheld.

Separately, earlier unofficial reports have referred to a handheld under the codename Canis. That device is expected to run games natively, unlike the PlayStation Portal which is built primarily for streaming.

Sony has not confirmed any hardware specifications for a next generation handheld, nor announced such a device. Until the company makes an official statement, the details about exclusive RDNA 5 use should be treated as rumor.