If you were expecting the PlayStation 6 to release on the usual console schedule, perhaps it’s time to reset your expectations. A new report from Bloomberg suggests that Sony is considering delaying the next PlayStation release to 2028 or even 2029, a significant departure from the typical seven-year console cycle. Interestingly, this was also rumored late last year.
The reason is not a lack of ambition or a lack of demand. It is a global shortage of memory chips caused by the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. According to the Bloomberg report, the surge in AI data centers is consuming massive amounts of DRAM and high-bandwidth storage, leaving consumer electronics companies to compete for a shrinking supply.
The AI boom is changing console timelines
The Bloomberg report explains that companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI data centers and purchasing massive amounts of AI accelerators that require massive amounts of memory. Each new generation of AI hardware consumes far more RAM than traditional PCs, and this demand is expected to continue to rise as the decade progresses.
As a result, memory manufacturers are shifting production to high-bandwidth storage for AI workloads, leaving less capacity for consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops and gaming consoles. In fact, analysts warn that this supply imbalance is not temporary and could last for years, forcing companies to rethink long-term product plans.
In such a scenario, delaying the PS6 could be a strategic move by Sony. Launching a new console at a time of high component costs would likely drive up prices and risk a repeat of the supply shortages that occurred when the PS5 launched. By waiting, Sony could avoid another hardware rollout plagued by limited inventory and inflated prices.
However, if the PS6 arrives later than expected, the PS5 generation will likely have a longer lifespan, giving developers more time to support existing hardware and continue releasing big titles without rushing the next transition. However, Sony has not officially confirmed the delay for now. However, if these reports prove true, the next PlayStation era could be a little longer in coming.
