PS6 Might Address the Liquid Metal Cooling Issues of the PS5 Launch Model

The PlayStation 5 era of Sony hardware has generally rolled out without major hiccups, aside from one notable concern regarding overheating. While the liquid metal cooling system has performed well in many situations, it has also resulted in leaks and other related problems. Although the exact cause of overheating in some early PS5 units remains unverified, a new patent potentially linked to the upcoming PS6 could tackle this design flaw.

This patent, which surfaced recently, was filed in early 2026 and published in April. It focuses on a revamped heat sink, with the description stating, “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.” The implication is that this new design will incorporate traditional liquid cooling methods to enhance heat transfer efficiency, whether the console is positioned horizontally or vertically.

While it’s not confirmed that this design will be featured in the PS6, there’s hope that Sony is moving away from the more complex liquid metal cooling approach. This system sparked ongoing debates about whether it was safe to keep the PS5 upright, especially after some users reported leaks onto their motherboards due to overheating. The theory was that having the console oriented against gravity contributed to these issues.

This topic was often discussed but never directly addressed by Sony. However, when the PS5 Slim and Pro models were released, early users noticed modifications to the original heat sinks. These included deeper grooves and revised application patterns for the cooling system, which seemed to reduce the likelihood of leaks and overheating. If the PS6 includes a handheld version, Sony will certainly want to avoid any leak-related controversies. As for my own PS5, it’s still running smoothly in the vertical position since launch, even in sweltering 97-degree weather without air conditioning. For now, at least.