Sony is reportedly developing a new handheld gaming device powered by a custom AMD APU, internally codenamed Canis. According to industry reports, this processor is expected to integrate Zen 6 CPU cores and RDNA 5 graphics architecture.
Digital Foundry analyst Richard Leadbetter suggests that Sony might be the sole manufacturer to utilize the RDNA 5 iGPU in a portable console. This potential exclusivity likely stems from AMD's specific engineering requirements for custom silicon rather than a formal contractual agreement.
Reports indicate that AMD requires a minimum sales commitment of 10 million units to develop custom APUs for hardware partners. This high threshold is cited as a factor in the cancellation of Microsoft's internal handheld project and Valve's decision to use off-the-shelf components for the Steam Deck 2.
The industry landscape for handhelds is shifting as companies navigate these hardware constraints. While Sony moves forward with custom silicon, other manufacturers appear to be pivoting toward third-party devices or standard components to maintain their product roadmaps.
