PS6 memory costs alone could run Sony more than $680 per console, according to a well-known hardware insider, and that’s before Sony pays for a processor, a case, or a controller.
The claim comes from KeplerL2, who’s accurately reported on AMD hardware in the past. In a post on the NeoGAF forum, KeplerL2 said “RAM + NAND alone” will cost Sony over $680 per PlayStation 6, according to Video Games Chronicle. The insider added that those parts cost far less when Sony finalized the console’s design.
Why Memory Is Suddenly So Expensive
Memory and storage prices have surged because of shortages driven by demand from AI data centers. Memory makers have favored higher-margin data center chips, which has tightened supply for consumer devices, according to Reuters. Consumer electronics prices have climbed across the board as a result.
That squeeze has already hit PlayStation fans. Sony raised U.S. PS5 prices in August 2025 and again on April 2, 2026, and the PS5 Pro, which launched at $699.99, now costs $899.99.
The standard PS5 now sells for $649.99, and the Digital Edition costs $599.99. Sony blamed “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” when it announced the latest increase on the PlayStation Blog.
The April hike also pushed the PlayStation Portal from $199.99 to $249.99, and similar increases landed in Europe and Japan. The August 2025 round was smaller, adding $50 to all three PS5 models. Analysts told Reuters the hikes were likely to dampen growth.
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If KeplerL2’s figure is right, PS6 memory costs alone would come to more than three quarters of what a PS5 Pro sells for today.
Analysts Are Already Talking About $1,000 Consoles
Industry analysts have debated whether next-gen consoles will cross $1,000. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Aldora CEO Joost van Dreunen said, “At this rate, the next generation may not even release until 2028, and when it does, north of a grand is the floor. Even existing devices are getting marked up.”
Newzoo market intelligence director Manu Rosier was a little more hopeful about base models. “The PS5 Pro is already at $899 after two hikes inside a year, so the distance to $1,000 is short,” he said. “Base next-generation models are likely to hold under $999 for psychological and marketing reasons.”
Xbox Is Feeling It Too
Rosier said premium tiers are a separate question, since component costs sit outside manufacturers’ control. He also pointed out that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has already said memory costs will affect pricing and availability for Project Helix, the company’s next-gen console. Xbox has said it needs to consider new business models to cover costs.
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Sony hasn’t said how PS6 memory costs will shape the console’s price, and it hasn’t announced a release date for the PlayStation 6. Some have suggested it could slip to 2028 or even 2029 because of component shortages, GamesIndustry.biz reported.
How much would you pay for a PS6 before you’d sit out the next generation? Sound off and let us know!
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