Sony May Push Next PlayStation To 2028 or 2029 as AI-fueled Memory Chip Shortage Upends Plans
2 36Sony is considering delaying the debut of its next PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029 as a global shortage of memory chips -- driven by the AI industry's rapidly growing appetite for the same DRAM that goes into gaming hardware, smartphones, and laptops -- squeezes supply and sends prices surging, Bloomberg News reported Monday.
A delay of that magnitude would upend Sony's carefully orchestrated strategy to sustain user engagement between hardware generations. The shortage traces back to Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron diverting the bulk of their manufacturing toward high-bandwidth memory for Nvidia's AI accelerators, leaving less capacity for conventional DRAM. The cost of one type of DRAM jumped 75% between December and January alone. Nintendo is also contemplating raising the price of its Switch 2 console in 2026.
2 comments
The surprising agents of the revolution. (Score: 5, Funny)
by sg_oneill ( 159032 ) on Monday February 16, 2026 @09:24AM (#65991810)
I doubt Karl Marx ever envisioned that come the revolution, the agents of revolutionary terror that upend the old order and drag the billionares to the wall would be Gamers infuriated that the tech bros AI fantasies deprived them of their new gaming consoles.
"Gamers of the world, you have nothing to lose except your potato pc and possibly your virginity".
Why would they even bother until about 2030? (Score: 5, Interesting)
by DeplorableCodeMonkey ( 4828467 ) on Monday February 16, 2026 @10:47AM (#65992064)
A few major things Sony has going for them:
1. Large install base (~92M according to Gemini).
2. More powerful than the Switch 2.
3. Way more relevant than XBox.
4. Microsoft is starting to have no choice but to target PS5; Gears of War Reloaded and Halo Combat Evolved Remaster are two major examples.
5. Nintendo is struggling really hard to not push the Switch 2 to $475-$500 which is a really bad price point for them.
Seriously, Sony would have to be just stupid to push a PS6 any time soon when they could just double down on content for the PS5.