The upcoming Sony PlayStation 6 is slated to launch sometime in 2028, and with recent reports claiming that the ongoing RAM crisis likely won’t end or ease up much before then, concerns are mounting about the price of next-gen gaming consoles. Those concerns are seemingly justified, with ubiquitous hardware leaker, KeplerL2, indicating that the PS6’s bill of materials cost has increased by as much as $200 since they predicted the cost at $760. This puts the BOM cost of the PS6 at around $960, if the leaker is to be believed, and current speculation suggests that the console may be priced at around $850-899 when it reaches the end consumer.
I’ve heard rumors it may be 2029. I think the real issue is how do you make a more powerful system without a ridiculous price given current costs. Its probably much better for them to wait given no one in gaming can afford the equipment for better performance right now.
I think it would be really interesting if Sony and Microsoft championed lower budget, lower fidelity indie titles instead of chasing unrealistic performance metrics. I think that’s the way the gaming community is going to go anyway, given that fewer and fewer people are going to be able to afford a new gaming PC or even these new consoles. They want to play games, they just can’t play the latest and and most power hungry games.
The Balatros and Animal Wells of the world have a golden opportunity to win over the hearts and minds of people left behind by the manufacturers.