According to insiders, the PS6’s memory components alone could cost over $680.
More bad news for anyone still hoping for affordable next-gen consoles: According to well-known hardware insider KeplerL2, the cost of RAM and SSD storage alone for the PlayStation 6 could currently total over $680. He writes this in NeoGaf Forum.
If this forecast proves accurate, Sony’s next console could surpass the $1,000 mark right at launch. Currently, Sony is charging around $600 in the U.S. for the PS5 without a disc drive and around $650 for the PS5 with a disc drive.
The main reason for the price is, once again, the ongoing AI boom, which has driven up the cost of memory modules and other hardware across the board.
Over $680 for memory
According to the well-known AMD hardware insider KeplerL2, the cost of the RAM and NAND flash memory alone for the PlayStation 6 will amount to “over $680” per console.
KeplerL2, who has provided reliable information on AMD hardware in the past, states in NeoGaf forum also notes that these components were significantly cheaper at the time Sony finalized the console’s design.
When the design phase for the next PlayStation console began, the price for 1 GB of GDDR 7 memory is said to have been $3. In the wake of the memory crisis, that price is said to have risen to between $20 and $30.
The Memory Crisis as a Price Driver
The main factor behind the sharp price increase for key components such as memory chips is the ongoing boom in the field of artificial intelligence. Major technology companies and operators of AI data centers are currently buying up large quantities of memory chips to equip their server farms.
Memory manufacturers such as Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung have increasingly shifted their production lines toward high-margin products for AI accelerators. The result is a shortage of conventional graphics and system memory for end consumers, with corresponding effects on purchase prices for console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft.
Console Subsidies Are Reaching Their Limits
In the past, console manufacturers often followed the traditional model of offering hardware at a slight loss at launch to quickly build a broad user base. The difference was recouped through game sales, subscriptions, and accessories.
But this model is faltering: If the manufacturing cost of the PS6 were to actually approach the $1,000 mark, a significant price cut by Sony would likely be economically unsustainable. Furthermore, Sony has already shown with the PS5 that production-related price increases are passed on to buyers.
Delay or Hardware Compromises?
The current situation poses a problem for both Sony and Microsoft. According to analysts, a price of $1,000 or more would cause the manufacturers to lose millions of potential customers. Moreover, the full extent of the memory crisis is not yet known and could end up costing us more than we currently realize.
One possible option being considered is a delay in the release. Back in August, Sony’s CEO hinted that there was still no release date set for the PS6. Sony could continue to focus on the current generation until hardware prices have dropped significantly.
Now we’d like to hear your opinion. At what price point would you decide not to buy a new console? Feel free to leave a comment below.
