PS6 Rumours Point to a 3-Device Future, But Steam Could Win the Next Console Fight

The next console generation might not be a simple PlayStation versus Xbox rematch.

According to a fresh rumour highlighted by GamesRadar, Sony could be preparing three PlayStation 6 devices for the next generation instead of one main machine. The reported line-up includes a budget model, a standard console, and a handheld, with prices supposedly ranging from US$350 to US$1,000 and a launch window in 2027.

The claim comes from leaker Moore's Law is Dead, who said the full PS6 would use an "Orion" chipset, while a "Canis" chipset would power both a cheaper console and a separate handheld.

None of this is official yet, but if the rumour is even partly accurate, it suggests Sony is thinking beyond the traditional "one box under the TV" approach.

The real battle may be ecosystem, not console power

What makes this interesting is not just the hardware itself, but the strategy behind it.

For years, PlayStation has revolved around the main home console, with accessories like the PS Portal acting more like add-ons. This rumoured PS6 plan sounds different. Instead of one device doing everything, Sony may be building a wider PlayStation ecosystem where players can access the same gaming world through multiple price points and form factors.

That puts it closer to the direction Microsoft is also reportedly chasing. GamesRadar notes that Xbox's rumoured Project Helix is said to lean heavily on Windows, combining console and PC ideas while using handheld devices like the ROG Xbox Ally for portable play.

In other words, the next generation may not be about which console is most powerful. It may be about which storefront and ecosystem players want to live in.

Why Steam could be the one to watch

That shift could open the door for Valve.

GamesRadar argues that a new Steam Machine could be in a strong position if Sony and Microsoft both move toward ecosystem-first strategies. Valve already has one major advantage: a massive installed base of players with years of purchases locked into their Steam libraries.

If gamers are being pushed toward prebuilt, living-room-friendly gaming systems anyway, many PC players may prefer a machine that keeps them inside Steam rather than asking them to start over on a new console storefront.

That matters even more in a market where PC component prices and RAM costs remain painful, making DIY upgrades less attractive. A good prebuilt gaming system suddenly looks a lot more appealing when building or refreshing a PC keeps getting more expensive.

Why Malaysia and SEA should care

For Malaysia and the wider SEA market, this is especially relevant.

Gamers here are already used to mixing platforms, whether that's console at home, PC in the room, or handheld gaming on the move. Price sensitivity also matters more in this region. If the next generation really spreads from budget hardware to premium devices, that gives players more ways in, but it also means buyers will compare value much harder.

A Steam-based machine could be attractive for SEA players who already buy most of their games digitally on PC and don't want to rebuild a library from scratch. On the other hand, Sony's rumoured handheld plus console strategy could still be strong if it offers smoother access to PlayStation games across different devices.

Right now, the biggest takeaway is simple: the next console war may not be fought over a single machine anymore. It may be fought over convenience, portability, storefronts, and which ecosystem feels cheapest and easiest to stick with.

Sony, Xbox, and Valve all seem to be orbiting that same idea. If so, the 10th generation could look very different from the last two.

Source: GamesRadar