Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation gaming consoles, widely expected to launch around 2027 or 2028, may not go on sale when many gamers had hoped. According to a recent report from Insider Gaming, massive price increases and tight RAM supplies are forcing both companies to discuss whether they should delay the launch of their next consoles until memory availability improves.
DRAM and other memory components have seen sharp price increases this year, largely driven by rising demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers that are outbidding consumer device makers with limited chip production capacity. This has made backing up memory for gaming consoles more expensive and uncertain, potentially driving production costs for the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox beyond what Sony and Microsoft would prefer at launch.
Shortage in the storage market hits hardware plans
Originally, both platforms were designed to follow the traditional seven to eight year console cycle, with the PS6 and its Xbox counterpart expected somewhere in the 2027-28 time frame. Now that rhythm may be changing as RAM manufacturers expand capacity and prices may fall.
This isn’t just about timing. The launch of next-generation consoles in a high-cost environment may have a negative impact on game development timelines and suggested retail prices, potentially making the hardware more expensive for consumers. Furthermore, it could also mean that the current PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series
For gamers, this scenario has a mix of good and bad implications. On the one hand, it could delay the hardware-driven leap in performance and functionality that you would see in a new generation of consoles. On the other hand, it could give developers more time to squeeze value and creativity out of the current generation, which still has thousands of titles and ongoing services that drive engagement. With rising storage costs and general market pressures changing hardware investment decisions, a delay – or at least a reconsideration of how and when to roll out – seems more plausible than it did a year ago.
