Sony and Microsoft are reportedly rethinking their timelines for the PS6 and next-gen Xbox, as global memory prices push past projections. What once looked like a steady path toward 2027-2028 console launches has started to wobble under pressure from rising DRAM costs leaving both companies with hard decisions.
PS6 release date delay being weighed behind closed doors
The next PlayStation was tentatively lined up for a 2027 debut, but that forecast might be slipping. Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson has confirmed whispers are growing louder at Sony, where internal discussions are now circling the possibility of pushing the PS6 release window.
Microsoft is in the same boat. Its next Xbox console, co-developed with AMD, is rumored to face similar delays. Both platforms were targeting a late-decade launch, but those plans now hinge on whether the memory crunch improves anytime soon.
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Xbox console future tied to DRAM volatility
Next-gen systems are expected to use GDDR7 memory cutting-edge, fast, and very expensive. But DRAM availability has tightened across the board. GPU makers, laptop builders, and even AI data centers are all fighting for the same chips.
Microsoft’s upcoming console is said to resemble a high-end Windows gaming PC in architecture. That might sound appealing to enthusiasts, but it also means it’s deeply exposed to the same cost surges that have plagued the DIY PC space.
Sony and Microsoft could raise prices, or hold the line
There are only a few real options left for both giants:
- Delay the PS6 and Xbox launches to wait out pricing
- Absorb higher memory costs, cutting into profits
- Raise the MSRP and gamble on customer loyalty
So far, both companies seem unwilling to commit. There’s cautious optimism that Samsung and SK Hynix may boost DRAM production soon, but neither supplier has shifted focus away from AI sectors yet.
PS6 release date tension adds pressure to aging hardware
The longer next-gen consoles stay on ice, the harder it becomes to keep the current generation appealing. PS5 and Xbox Series X sales already saw a dip last November, and pushing newer hardware past 2028 risks stretching both machines beyond their lifecycle sweet spots.
Discounting current-gen consoles might help in theory, but even that’s becoming difficult. Component costs have climbed across the board, and leakers like Moore’s Law Is Dead suggest Microsoft may even raise Series X prices again if shortages worsen.
Memory strain hits more than consoles Steam Machine now at risk
The damage isn’t limited to Sony and Microsoft. Valve’s long-awaited Steam Machine refresh, originally aimed for early 2026, may also get pushed back. Like the upcoming consoles, it relies on DDR5 modules now caught in a pricing spiral. Without a correction, even compact Linux PCs are starting to feel the squeeze.
The PS6 and next Xbox were supposed to mark the next big step for console gaming. But unless memory prices calm down soon, fans may have to wait longer than expected while paying more when the day finally comes.
