Sony Patent Hints at a Possible Cooling Change for the PS6

Sony has reportedly just patented a new sealed liquid cooling system that will likely replace liquid metal in the upcoming PlayStation 6. The new cooling system is designed to reduce the risk of leaks, improve thermal efficiency for extended gaming sessions, and create stable temperatures that allow the PS6 to be placed in both vertical and horizontal orientations without issues.

The patent describes a sealed liquid vaporization system that regulates the circulation of the liquid with heat pipes. These pipes will have tapered and extended sections that are designed to ensure the console can safely be placed in either orientation without risk of overheating or creating liquid metal issues.

Patent Suggests PS6 Will Have An Upgraded Cooling System

Early PS5 models had issues when placed in the vertical position for long periods of time, resulting in uneven buildup of liquid metal and less contact between the heatsink and the chip, and Sony implemented hardware revisions in the PS5 Pro and PlayStation Slim CFI-2116, but the new sealed liquid system should solve this problem once and for all.

As reported by Spazio Games, the patent details the new cooling system's structure, which utilizes heat pipes to create a uniform distribution of the liquid and effective cooling regardless of what orientation you choose to place the console in.

To combat the effects of gravity, these heat pipes will be fitted with extensions that will lower the fluid level when the console changes orientation, allowing the vaporization process to continue dissipating the heat.

The PlayStation 6 is still largely a mystery, but there's a small breadcrumb trail of clues gamers have been following. As far as the release date goes, RAMaggedon has caused some concern as to when Sony will choose to release the PS6, with some reports suggesting we won't get our hands on the PS6 until 2028, maybe even 2029.

The other pressing question is what price point will the PS6 be set at? With the Steam Machine hitting the market at over a thousand dollars, and Switch 2, XBOX Series X, and PS5 all receiving price hikes recently, it's likely the PS6 will be priced somewhere in the $800–$1000 range.

PS6 Marks The Beginning of a New Era

To the dismay of many collectors, the end of an era is upon us as Sony recently revealed they won't be making game discs anymore, which means the PS6 will likely be digital only, starting in January 2028.

While Sony claims the decision to end disc production is based on consumer trends, stating, "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today," a petition to save PlayStation's physical media has quickly garnered over 100,000 signatures.

It's not just about collecting games and feeling like you actually own them; stopping production of video game discs will affect thousands of people. Many retailers, manufacturers, and distributors will feel the effects of this transition to digital media, while small businesses that use pre-owned games as their bread and butter could potentially be hit the hardest.

The petition aims to stop Sony from ending physical game production and allow gamers the opportunity to continue collecting, gifting, and reselling game discs, despite the company's new all-digital vision for the future.