A recently filed patent by Sony suggests that the PlayStation 6 will avoid a flaw in the original PS5's design by incorporating a revised cooling system that works effectively whether the console is placed horizontally or vertically. While Sony has not officially confirmed the PlayStation 6, rumors and recent company decisions point to several expected features, including a handheld device and a disc-less design following the announcement that Sony will stop releasing physical games on discs after 2028.
Patent Details a New Cooling System
As spotted by Tech4Gamers, Sony filed a patent in early 2026 for an improved cooling system for consoles, published in April. The patent description reads: 'An electronic device is provided that can improve cooling capacity of a heating element built into an electronic device disposed in a plurality of postures.' This indicates the new design will offer more efficient cooling regardless of the console's orientation.
Addressing PS5 Overheating Issues
Early PlayStation 5 models were reported to suffer from overheating and liquid metal leakage problems, particularly when placed vertically. These issues were later addressed in the PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro models, which added grooves to the heat sink. The new patent aims to eliminate such problems entirely for the next-generation console.
Vaporisation-Based Cooling System
According to a follow-up report by Tech4Gamers, the patent suggests the PlayStation 6 will use a vaporisation-based cooling system instead of the liquid metal system found in the PS5. This new system is claimed to allow the console to 'run more efficiently and stay cool' while preventing liquid metal spill issues.
Launch Timeline
The release date for the PS6 remains unconfirmed, but following the announcement of no-disc physical games, some analysts believe the console will launch after January 2028.
