Yeah it's a shitty time to be releasing a new console, and unfortunately for Sony, they've spent the last 20 years making incredible graphics a big part of their brand, so if they try to make a less powerful box to keep prices down they'll inevitably cop a lot of flak for it not being a big leap over PS5.

Heck, PS5 itself already got criticised online in some circles for not being as big a leap as prior gens, and that was before the tech market became a dumpster fire.

They've got their work cut out for them whichever route they take, so it will be interesting to see how they try to thread the needle.

Frankly I think right now they'd be better off doing a PS5 redesign that cuts costs.

A PS5 Super Slim based on RDNA4, but still targeting the same power level, would be cheaper to manufacture. It would use less watts and allow them to save money on the cooling too.

I think any high expectations for amazing generational jumps already died with this generation, so gamers won't really care anymore if PS6 or any other system is more of the same. Graphics expectations are low but that's not going to stop people from buying consoles to play new video games.

They will release at least two versions to appeal to as many gamers as possible. Still, I suspect sales will be quite slow until the 3rd or 4th year when "must have" exclusives start dropping. It's not a real issue so long as the existing playerbase are active on any Playstation system.

Nothing wrong with the current formula, it's completely logical and what most people want.
Just make tons of good games like they used to, everything else will fall in place.

What about launching the PS6 handheld asap as a PS5 handheld instead? Just push next gen off until 2030 ish, or further possibly.

While they're at it in this case, either heavily subsidize the PS5 handheld, or use the handheld internals and make a PS5 (Lite) Super Slim.

If the PS5 Lite can match the existing PS5 Slim performance visually, then just discontinue PS5 Slim and call the PS5 Lite the PS5 Super Slim.

That way you'd still only have 3 consumer SKU's like now. PS5 Super Slim being digital like Pro but with a disc drive add on option.

PS5 Super Slim could be a massive size reduction (like PS2 Slim was) and could be extremely affordable only being digital.

Maybe SNY could just use FSR5/6 to make a PSSR3 and update PS5 Pro to keep the gen going beyond 2030.

Dunno if I'd say this is the best option, but wouldn't be a terrible option based on the situation everyone's in as you said.

With the soaring prices of SSD's, I'm starting to wonder whether PS6 could potentially have a small soldered internal SSD like 512GB, or an even smaller custom size if they can get away with it (PS5 had a custom size originally), along with a 2.5 inch internal expansion bay for a SATA SSD or HDD, just like PS4 and PS3.

You'd have to take the time and wait to transfer games from the expansion bay drive to the main SSD, but it would be be a cost savings up front and the user could choose whether to add it or not later. Some people, especially with gigabit fiber connections, wouldn't bother and would just delete and download on the main SSD when they wanted a different game.

No reason why SNY couldn't also have an M.2 NVMe expansion slot as well really. Shouldn't add too much extra cost. Maybe the main SSD isn't soldered this time and is swappable. Replace it if you wish with a higher storage M.2 and then use a USB stick to upload the system OS just like you would do with PS4 and PS3.

For the handheld (hybrid) they could have a storage expansion bay in the dock, or just allow you to hook up an external SSD/HDD to the dock.

This would allow SNY to reduce the price of the console and would also allow them to make more units based on the amount of storage they'd be able to get their hands on.

Bring back physical games. At this point I don't care about the tech. I just want a system that has physical games. No disc, no buy. I will absolutely skip the PS6 if Sony doesn't reverse course on their greedy, bone-headed decision to kill off discs on their platform.