PlayStation 6 Launch Likely Delayed to 2028 or 2029
Sony is reportedly reviewing the launch schedule for its next-generation console, the PlayStation 6 (PS6), amid rising memory component costs.
According to reports cited from Gizmochina on Thursday, plans to release the console in 2027 have become less certain. Options to delay the launch to 2028 or even 2029 are now being discussed within the supply chain.
Rising memory prices are cited as the primary factor. Strong demand for DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) from the data centre and artificial intelligence (AI) industries has absorbed large volumes of component supply, consequently affecting other hardware, including gaming consoles.
The PS6 is rumoured to be equipped with approximately 30GB of fast memory. Should these specifications materialise, memory price fluctuations could significantly increase production costs. This pricing instability is considered to complicate manufacturing planning and pricing strategy.
At the launch of each new generation, Sony typically markets its consoles at competitive prices, even though profits are only realised through game and service sales.
However, if memory costs remain elevated, the company faces a difficult choice between accepting slimmer margins or raising the retail price. A console priced close to US$1,000 (approximately Rp16.8 million) is considered unlikely to find market acceptance.
On the other hand, there is no pressing urgency to release a new-generation console. The PlayStation 5 has reportedly sold more than 75 million units globally and remains widely used by consumers.
The arrival of the PS5 Pro in late 2024 also refreshed the product line, simultaneously extending the current console’s lifecycle.
Historically, the gap between Sony’s console generations has varied. The PlayStation 3 launched six years after the PS2, whilst the span from PS4 to PS5 reached seven years.
Accordingly, an eight- to nine-year cycle is described as unusual but not unprecedented.
The semiconductor market itself is known for rapid shifts. Should supply improve or prices stabilise, the launch timeline could shift once again.
For the time being, however, the combination of high memory prices and a still-robust PS5 ecosystem makes a delay to the PS6 launch a scenario considered realistic.