Building on January's PC gaming hardware price increases, Sony is considering delaying the PlayStation 6 to 2028 or 2029 amid ongoing AI-fueled RAM shortages. Nintendo may raise Switch 2 prices later this year due to the same pressures, as tech giants hoard memory for data centers.
The AI boom continues to strain RAM supplies, now directly threatening console launches after prompting PC hardware price hikes earlier this year. A Bloomberg report indicates Sony may push back the PlayStation 6 from late 2027 to 2028 or 2029, calling it a 'major upset' to its strategy. The PS5 launched in 2020, with prior leaks pointing to 2027 manufacturing start, but analysts now favor later dates amid constraints. Sony prioritizes affordability ($400-$600 range) and is developing a handheld for PS5/PS6 titles.
Nintendo's Switch 2, launched in 2025 with over 17 million units sold, faces similar issues. Sources say the company is contemplating a price rise later in 2026, despite January assurances of no immediate impact. President Shuntaro Furukawa recently warned of potential changes if shortages persist.
These follow Asus's January 5 price adjustments and planned GPU hikes from AMD and Nvidia, as reported previously. Broader ripples include Valve delaying Steam Machines and Microsoft eyeing Xbox price increases, as AI firms like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta dominate supply chains.
