AI Memory Crunch: PS6 Delay, Switch 2 Price Hike Hits Gaming

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The gaming industry faces significant headwinds as burgeoning AI development by major tech firms strains global memory supplies, potentially leading to a delayed launch for Sony's PlayStation 6 and a price increase for Nintendo's Switch 2. This news follows Valve's earlier announcement of a delay for its Steam Machines.

AI Expansion Fuels Gaming Hardware Challenges

Memory shortages and soaring prices have become prominent issues, primarily driven by the aggressive expansion into artificial intelligence by technology giants. The substantial demand for RAM required to power advanced AI platforms means that as companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta invest heavily in AI data centers to maintain competitiveness, the availability and cost of memory components are dramatically affected.

These supply constraints and escalating costs are poised to significantly impact the consumer electronics sector. Valve has already confirmed a delay for its Steam Machines as it contends with shortages in both memory and storage. Similarly, Microsoft is reportedly considering yet another price increase for its Xbox Series X/S consoles, a move attributed to the global scarcity of RAM.

PlayStation 6 Launch Window Shifts

In response to these market pressures, Bloomberg reports that Sony is contemplating postponing the release of the PlayStation 6 until 2028 or even 2029, citing "people familiar with the company's thinking." While Sony has not publicly disclosed a launch timeline for its next-generation console, internal documents leaked in 2022 previously suggested a release no earlier than 2027.

More recently, reports indicated that Sony aimed to begin manufacturing its upcoming console early next year for a 2027 debut. However, some analysts now believe a launch in 2028 or beyond is increasingly probable given the current supply landscape.

Bloomberg emphasizes that a delay of the PlayStation 6 into 2028 or 2029 due to memory issues would constitute a "major upset to a carefully orchestrated strategy to sustain user engagement between hardware generations." Sony's current console, the PlayStation 5, launched in 2020.

Nintendo Considers Switch 2 Price Adjustment

Regarding Nintendo, Bloomberg indicates that a price hike for the Switch 2 may be on the horizon. Citing "people familiar with [the company's] plans," the report suggests Nintendo is currently "contemplating" raising the price of its latest console later this year. The Switch 2 has already sold over 17 million units since its launch in 2025.

In January, Nintendo initially stated that RAM shortages would have no "immediate impact" on the price of the Switch 2. However, Shuntaro Furukawa, the company's president, issued a warning earlier this month that this situation could change if current trends persist into the upcoming fiscal year, suggesting potential future adjustments.