- The escalating prices and the shortage of RAM and SSD memory cast doubt on the 2027-2028 launch window for the PS6 and the next Xbox.
- The demand for chips from artificial intelligence and data centers absorbs a large part of global production.
- Europe could face more expensive consoles, possible capacity cuts, and price increases in the current generation as well.
- Sony and Microsoft are considering delaying the new generation to avoid a launch with exorbitant costs and stock problems.
The console generation change seemed to have its timeline more or less clear, but those plans are going awry. As the months go by, The possibility that PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox will arrive later than expected is becoming increasingly clear., with a delay that could break the usual seven-year cycle rhythm to which the industry had become accustomed, a phenomenon similar to the delays that disrupt releases.
The reason isn't a gaming or business strategy issue, but something much more basic: memory. The sharp increase in the price of RAM and SSD storage, driven primarily by the brutal demand for chips being generated by artificial intelligence and large data centersIt is disrupting the roadmaps of Sony and Microsoft and threatens to also make the consoles we already have at home more expensive.
A generational cycle that is out of sync
PS5 and Xbox Series are part of the ninth generation of consoleswhich officially started in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. These systems typically remain as a reference for about seven years, so Many gamers assumed that the PS6 and the new Xbox would arrive between 2027 and 2028., fitting with that classic calendar.
In fact, it had already been rumored that the next batch of consoles might arrive somewhat later than usual due to the very nature of the issue. component shortages and stock problems marked the early years of PS5 and Xbox SeriesOn the table was the idea of extending the generation by at least an additional year to compensate for a very limited start in units, something reminiscent of previous cases of hardware delay.
However, the sector has encountered a new obstacle. In recent months, The lack of memory and the rising prices of DRAM and NAND chips have become the new bottleneck.Sources cited by media outlets such as Insider Gaming and specialized leakers suggest that this memory crisis could be prolonged, compromising the design and manufacturing deadlines for the next generation.
The situation is particularly complicated for Europe, where Consumer electronics prices were already inflated by taxes, logistics costs, and currency fluctuations.Any additional discrepancy in the production cost of the consoles is quickly reflected in the retail price paid by players in Spain and the rest of the continent.
The RAM and SSD crisis hits the next generation
Memory is the big problem. Consumer DRAM, high-performance GDDR, and NAND chips for SSDs. Their prices have skyrocketed and their availability is very irregular.Not only have PC modules gone up in price, but practically everything that uses memory chips: mobile phones, televisions, laptops, and even accessories like SD cards or external SSDs.
The main cause lies on another technological front: the expansion of artificial intelligence and the need to feed huge data centersServers dedicated to training AI models, cloud services, and large technology corporations are absorbing a very significant part of global memory production, generating fierce competition for a limited resource.
Internal reports handled by the industry speak of These increases, in some cases, have doubled or tripled the price of certain RAM modules in a single year.The NAND used in SSDs follows a similar trend, which means that any device that relies on a large volume of memory will inevitably see its base cost skyrocket.
For a console, this is devastating. If memory already represented a significant portion of the total cost with the PS5 and Xbox Series, The upcoming PlayStation 6 and new Xbox will need even more RAM and a faster, higher-capacity SSD.The expected technological leap—better ray tracing, larger worlds, instant loading, and intensive use of AI in the games themselves—demands more powerful hardware, and that's where memory matters, a lot.
Given this situation, several scenarios are being evaluated in the offices of Sony and Microsoft: launch on the scheduled date assuming a very high production costDelaying the new generation until the memory market calms down, or adjusting the technical specifications to mitigate the impact, are two options. None of these are simple, and all have direct consequences for European consumers.
Release dates in the air: 2027-2028 is no longer so certain
Until recently, analysts and leaks agreed that The new generation of consoles was aiming for a launch window between 2027 and 2028That timeframe aligned with the PS5 and Xbox Series lifecycle and with the usual timeframes for designing, manufacturing, and distributing a new platform on a large scale.
The problem is that, to reach the stores in 2027, Mass production should begin during 2026And current forecasts indicate that the memory crisis will still be very much present that year, with a still very strong demand from AI and with the supply trying to catch up.
Industry sources acknowledge that, under these conditions, Securing millions of DRAM and NAND chips at reasonable prices is a risky bet.Manufacturers could find that the final cost of each console skyrockets beyond what the market is willing to pay, especially in price-sensitive territories like Spain or the rest of Europe.
The alternative is to delay the launch date while waiting for memory prices to stabilize. This has even been mentioned. a horizon close to 2030 as a possible time when the RAM market could normalizeAlthough other more optimistic estimates place some improvement from 2027 onwards. Right now, putting an exact year is almost like flipping a coin.
In this context, it is almost taken for granted that We will experience some kind of delay compared to the initial plans of Sony and MicrosoftThe question is no longer so much whether the PS6 and the next Xbox will be released later, but how much longer the wait will be and with what hardware configuration they will finally arrive on the market.
PS6 and the new Xbox: more power, but with memory as their Achilles' heel
One of the few certainties is that PlayStation 6 and the new Xbox will need more memory than current consolesToday, PS5 and Xbox Series X work with 16 GB of unified high-speed RAM, a figure that is already insufficient for some very ambitious developments that push the machine to its limits.
Considering the evolution of video games, it would be logical for the new generation to make a considerable leap in this area. The expectation of denser open worlds, higher resolution, higher refresh rates, and more complex AI systems This suggests the possibility of higher RAM configurations and even faster SSDs, with capacities likely to exceed one terabyte as standard.
The problem is that every additional gigabyte adds to the budget. For reference, it was estimated that Each GB of GDDR6 for consoles was around $2,5-$3 in early 2025 in bulk purchases. With the latest price increases, that figure would have climbed by around 60%, putting the cost of the current 16GB well above $70 per unit.
Storage is not far behind. A mid-range 1TB SSD has gone from $50-$90 to between $70 and $120According to various market estimates, the cost of these two components, including memory and storage, has risen from around $110 to nearly or over $170 per console.
If we extrapolate this scenario to a PS6 or the next Xbox with more RAM and a larger SSD, it's not unreasonable to think that Memory ends up becoming the most expensive component of the entire systemIn a model that in Europe already cost around 600 euros, seeing how the memory alone takes up a huge part of the budget is a headache for any manufacturer.
The case of the new Xbox: a very premium bet with the risk of runaway prices
On Microsoft's side, rumors have long indicated that the The next Xbox would clearly be geared towards a high-end profile.with a focus close to PC gaming. There has even been talk of a hybrid concept between a traditional console and a computer, inspired by devices like ROG Ally, with access not only to the Xbox catalog, but also to platforms like Steam, Epic, or GOG.
Even before the current crisis, Prices were already being discussed that could easily exceed 1.000 euros for the most powerful models. If the focus was on hardware with virtually no compromises, with the cost of memory skyrocketing, that figure could become a minimum standard or, at the very least, a target difficult to lower without serious cuts.
To deliver an experience truly close to a high-performance PC, a machine of this type would need large amount of high-speed GDDR memory and a very fast, high-capacity SSDThese are precisely the two components whose price has become the biggest problem for the next generation.
Trying to lower the price of the console by reducing RAM or storage It would call into question the value proposition of that new Xbox.It aims to differentiate itself precisely by offering a more flexible and powerful experience. Lowering specifications at this point could leave it in limbo: too expensive for the general public, but without enough of a technical advantage over a custom-built PC.
This situation forces Microsoft to do some very precise calculations. They either have to sell the console with very tight margins—or even at a loss, as has happened in previous generations—or they have to pass on a significant portion of the cost to the European consumer, who has already seen high-end electronics prices continue to rise.
PlayStation 6: Pressure for massive sales and fear of repeating stock shortages
Sony faces a different, but equally complex, challenge. PlayStation 5 proved that, even in a context as complicated as the pandemic, It is possible to sell millions of consoles in a very short timeIn its first weeks on the market, the PS5 achieved very high sales figures despite the widespread shortage of units.
With PS6, commercial expectations are enormous, but The combination of high memory prices and the risk of stock shortages complicates the idea of an immediate mass launch.Putting several million consoles into circulation in the first few months requires securing a gigantic volume of DRAM and NAND, and that is more expensive today than ever before.
Recent moves suggest that Sony is already maneuvering to to contain memory and storage costs in their current productsOne example is the capacity adjustments in certain versions of the PS5 Slim, where the size of the SSD has been manipulated to keep prices as controlled as possible without further increasing the RRP in markets like Europe.
Given this experience, it wouldn't be surprising if the PS6 arrives with highly measured memory configurations and differentiated options according to storage capacityThis is similar to what happens today with some smartphones. A base model with less SSD storage and a more expensive one with more space could be a way to spread costs among different user profiles.
The question is to what extent cuts can be made without jeopardizing the generational leap that the players are expecting. Excessively limiting RAM or SSD could hinder the development of more ambitious games. and create a feeling of "half a generation" instead of a clear break with PS5, something that in the long run could take its toll on brand image and sales.
Direct impact on current consoles: price increases and capacity cuts
The problem of memory does not stay in the future; It also affects the consoles that are already on the marketPS5, Xbox Series and the Switch 2 itself, a recent arrival on the scene, also depend on memory chips and SSDs whose cost has increased significantly.
In Europe, movements in this direction have already been seen: Upward adjustments to official prices, less aggressive promotions, and bundles that try to offset the cost by offering games or accessories instead of direct discountsIf the pressure on RAM and storage continues, further increases from 2026 onwards are not out of the question.
Another formula being used is to launch models with less storage capacity at the same priceThis leaves the expansion to the user via external SSDs or dedicated cards. In this way, the direct cost for the manufacturer is reduced, and part of the expense is shifted to the player, who must invest more if they want enough space for their digital library.
This approach doesn't only affect Sony and Microsoft. Other gaming-oriented devices, such as the Steam Machine and various PC laptops, They would also be suffering the impact of the memory price increase on their launch plansIn some cases, the lack of a definitive date and price would be explained precisely by this increase in production costs.
For the European user, the message is clear: Upgrading your console or getting new hardware is becoming an increasingly expensive luxury.With the cost of living constantly rising and electronics prices skyrocketing, many gamers will think twice before making the jump to the next generation if it comes with particularly high prices.
AI and other sectors are further straining the memory market
This whole scenario has its roots in a much broader technological transformation. The expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and large data centers It is generating an unprecedented demand for memory, capable of absorbing the production capacity of the main chip manufacturers in record time.
Traditional IT companies such as Lenovo and HP have already begun delaying the launch of laptops and desktops. due to the difficulties in obtaining memory at reasonable prices, a phenomenon that is reflected in our PC landscape and releasesIn the PC gaming sector, European users have begun to notice price increases in graphics cards, RAM kits, and SSDs, with some manufacturers warning of increases that may exceed 100% on certain products.
Even lower-profile devices, such as SD cards, external SSDs, or storage solutions for cameras and mobile phonesThey have seen their prices inflate in a matter of months. Memory has become a strategic resource, and any sector that needs it is swept along by the same wave.
In this context, consoles are another player. If other industries are already postponing projects or revising prices because of RAMIt makes sense that Sony and Microsoft are recalculating their roadmap for the PS6 and the next Xbox. No one wants to repeat a launch situation with chronic stock shortages and rampant speculation, as happened with the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in their early days.
Looking at the short and medium term, everything indicates that The next generation of consoles will arrive later than initially expected, with higher launch prices and very limited memory configurations.For gamers in Spain and the rest of Europe, the outlook involves preparing for a slower transition, conditioned by a memory crisis affecting the entire technology sector, which could make the PS6 and the new Xbox the most expensive and complex systems to launch in recent history.
