Sony may push PS6 launch to 2028 or even 2029 as memory chip crisis bites

Sony is reportedly thinking about delaying the PlayStation 6 to 2028 or possibly 2029, as a brutal global memory chip shortage throws a wrench into the gaming giant's next-gen plans. According to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the company's thinking, Sony is reconsidering its timeline for the next PlayStation console.

The delay would make the PS5 generation potentially the longest in PlayStation history, stretching well beyond the typical 7-year cycle.The culprit? AI data centers are swallowing up memory chip production at a staggering pace. Companies like Alphabet and Amazon are pouring hundreds of billions into AI infrastructure this year alone, snapping up chips that would otherwise go into phones, laptops, and yes, game consoles.

Bloomberg describes the situation as "RAMmageddon," with DRAM prices surging 75% between December and January.

Nintendo isn't safe either—Switch 2 price hike on the table

The report also claims Nintendo is contemplating raising the price of the Switch 2 sometime in 2026. The hybrid console launched last June at $449, and Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has already acknowledged that memory prices are climbing at a pace that "exceeds expectations." He hasn't confirmed a price bump yet but hasn't ruled one out either.

Valve is feeling the squeeze too. The company recently delayed its Steam Machine console and admitted it needs to "revisit" pricing because of the same storage and memory crunch.

Why the shortage won't end anytime soon

The core problem is structural. Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—the world's three major memory makers—have pivoted manufacturing toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used in Nvidia's AI chips, which are far more profitable. That leaves less capacity for the standard DRAM that powers everyday electronics.Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing told Bloomberg this imbalance isn't a short-term blip. Analysts at Bernstein warn prices are going "parabolic," and new chip fabrication plants take years to build.For gamers, the takeaway is simple: consoles are getting more expensive, and the next generation is further away than anyone expected.