PlayStation’s Mark Cerny and AMD’s Jack Huynh not only talked about the PS6, they also revealed the pillars of the next generation of graphics hardware with Project Amethyst
Project Amethyst introduces three key innovations that redefine performance and graphics fidelity in the era of ray tracing and AI.
The conversation about the future of video game consoles took a monumental leap forward when PlayStation architect Mark Cerny and AMD’s Jack Huynh shared crucial details about the ambitious “Project Amethyst.” This joint engineering project between Sony and AMD will not only lay the foundation for what will likely be the next PlayStation (the PS6) but will also chart the roadmap for the next generation of PC graphics hardware. The central message is clear: the era of traditional rasterization is giving way to ray tracing and machine learning (ML).
At the heart of this technical revelation are three new technologies designed to drive efficiency and visual quality in unprecedented ways. Mark Cerny pointed out that while rasterization remains important, the real “step change” in performance will come from these advanced capabilities.
What are radiant cores and neural arrays?
One of the most eagerly awaited additions to AMD hardware, and therefore to the PS6, is Radiance Cores. This dedicated hardware block is designed for unified light transport, which translates, in simple terms, into powerful native ray tracing acceleration. For those unfamiliar with these terms, this means leaving behind the sacrifices in image quality and performance that often occur when implementing ray tracing in the current generation and ensuring hyper-realistic lighting and reflections without drastically affecting the frame rate.
On the other hand, Neural Arrays are AMD and Sony’s proposal for accelerating machine learning tasks. Unlike Nvidia’s Tensor cores, this technology seeks to efficiently coordinate existing computing units to perform complex tasks. This architecture is fundamental to next-generation image scaling (such as FSR or PlayStation’s PSSR), as it allows the console to achieve much higher resolutions and performance than its memory bandwidth would otherwise allow.
The three core technologies of Project Amethyst are:
- Radiant Cores: Hardware acceleration dedicated to ray tracing for more accurate lighting and reflections.
- Neural Arrays: AI block for efficient scaling and other artificial intelligence tasks.
- Universal Compression: Data flow optimization to maximize effective GPU bandwidth.
Universal compression: the battle for bandwidth
Perhaps the most intriguing innovation is universal compression. Mark Cerny pointed out that memory bandwidth for next-generation GPUs increases less efficiently and at a very high cost. Universal compression acts as a black box that optimizes data flow before it reaches memory and promises that effective bandwidth will exceed the theoretical specification of the hardware.
For gamers, the direct benefit is a more agile and powerful system. It is a smart method that allows for more efficient rendering on the GPU, bypassing memory controller limitations and ensuring that consoles can handle ultra-high-resolution textures and the demanding requirements of full ray tracing without bottlenecks.
When will these innovations arrive?
This co-engineering effort has implications far beyond a single platform. AMD and Sony are seeking to create a common technology foundation that will be present in:
- The PlayStation (PS6)
- The next generation of AMD graphics cards (RDNA 5)
- The next Xbox console
- The broader PC ecosystem
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This convergence aims to make life easier for developers, allowing them to create high-fidelity games that can be easily scaled across platforms. Regarding the arrival of the PS6, the technology is still in the simulation phase. RDNA 5 cards for PCs could arrive relatively soon, but their implementation in PlayStation is “a few years away.” The strongest rumors suggest that the PS6 will be released around 2027, although it could be delayed until 2028 or 2029. This is a longer life cycle that reflects the complexity and ambition of this technological leap. Project Amethyst assures us that, when it arrives, the new generation will offer a truly transformative experience. For all these reasons, it is important to note that this talk is not only about the future PS6 but also about the future of how we will play on all consoles or computers that use AMD hardware.
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