A new industry report suggests that the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox could be delayed beyond their expected 2027-2028 launch window, as console makers grapple with soaring memory costs driven by the rise of artificial intelligence.
According to the report, manufacturers are reconsidering their timelines in the hope that RAM suppliers will be able to expand production capacity, easing shortages and bringing prices down. The surge in demand from global AI infrastructure has led to sharp increases in memory prices, creating a bottleneck for consumer electronics.
The pressure is already visible in the current generation. Sony has raised PlayStation 5 prices once, while Microsoft has implemented multiple increases, including pushing the 2TB Xbox Series X to around $800, a move that has weighed heavily on hardware sales. Nintendo has so far avoided mid-cycle price hikes for its new Switch 2, but its $450 launch price is still significantly higher than the original Switch's debut price of $300.
Industry observers warn that if today's consoles are this expensive, the next generation could debut at prices between $800 and $1,000 or more in some regions, especially if RAM costs remain elevated. At the same time, consumers are facing broader cost-of-living pressures, reducing their willingness to spend such sums on gaming hardware.
The situation underscores how AI's growing appetite for computing resources is reshaping the electronics market, with no clear end in sight to the strain it is placing on component supply chains.
by RTTNews Staff Writer
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