Sony is considering delaying the launch of its next PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029, according to a report by Bloomberg citing people familiar with the company’s thinking. Such a move would mark a significant shift from Sony’s carefully structured approach to maintaining player engagement between hardware generations. Representatives for Sony did not respond to requests for comment.
The reported delay comes amid broader supply chain pressures affecting the technology sector. Bloomberg also states that Nintendo is contemplating a price increase for its recently launched Switch 2 console in 2026. The company contributed to strong demand in 2025 following the debut of the new system, which also drove purchases of storage cards. Nintendo representatives likewise did not respond to requests for comment.
Industry strain appears to be closely tied to the global memory market. The sector is facing what has been described as a structural shortage driven by rising demand from artificial intelligence data centers. These facilities are estimated to consume roughly 70 percent of global high-end DRAM production. A shift toward High Bandwidth Memory, which requires significantly more wafer capacity than standard DDR5, has led major manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron to prioritize enterprise-focused output over consumer components.
The effects have extended across multiple segments. Samsung has reportedly increased memory prices by 60 percent, while the cost of a 64GB DDR5 kit now rivals that of a PlayStation 5 console. PC manufacturers, including Dell, HP, and ASUS, have begun raising prices by as much as 30 percent, with some mid-range systems absorbing an additional 100 dollars in memory-related costs. Micron has also announced plans to close its Crucial consumer brand by the second quarter of 2026 in order to focus on enterprise memory products.
Gaming hardware manufacturers are reportedly reassessing launch timelines amid these conditions. Bloomberg indicates that concerns over component pricing could make next-generation consoles prohibitively expensive if introduced too soon. New fabrication plants are under development in the United States and Asia, though analysts suggest meaningful production capacity may not materialize until late 2027 or 2028. Until then, hardware makers appear to be navigating a constrained and costly environment.
