PlayStation 6 and Next Xbox still expected in 2027 despite memory crisis

[Daniel Sims]

Rumor mill: Ongoing DRAM and NAND shortages have already impacted the pricing and release timelines of computers and other tech products, prompting analysts to predict that Sony and Microsoft could delay their next-generation consoles. However, Take-Two's CEO and a well-known leaker with a solid track record have recently suggested otherwise.

Near the end of an interview with The Game Business, Strauss Zelnick – the head of the company that owns Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games – said he sees no reason to believe the current RAM shortage will impact the launch of next-generation consoles. Recent leaks appear to support that view.

According to the latest information, Sony and Microsoft are expected to introduce the PlayStation 6 and a new Xbox, codenamed Helix, in late 2027. However, sharp increases in RAM prices driven by manufacturers diverting capacity to AI data centers have already disrupted other parts of the tech industry.

Laptop prices are rising, and fewer consumers are upgrading their CPUs and motherboards due to the high cost of DDR5 RAM. Valve has also reportedly delayed the launch of its Steam Machine as it struggles to secure sufficient DDR5 supply. The situation has fueled speculation that Sony and Microsoft may try to wait out the crisis rather than release prohibitively expensive consoles. However, there is no concrete evidence to support that theory.

Prominent leaker KeplerL2 recently claimed that the PS6 and Xbox "Helix" remain on track for a holiday 2027 release. It remains unclear why console manufacturers would proceed despite significant supply chain disruptions.

One possibility is that Sony and Microsoft have secured enough memory reserves to launch their systems on schedule, even if only in limited quantities. A more concerning explanation is that DRAM and NAND shortages are not expected to improve in the years immediately following the anticipated launch window.

Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group – the parent company of memory manufacturer SK Hynix – recently said shortages are likely to persist into 2030, well beyond the expected launch window for the PS6 and Xbox "Helix." Delaying the consoles that long would likely be untenable. Existing chip manufacturing contracts with TSMC may also limit Sony and Microsoft's flexibility.

Furthermore, the hardware specifications the companies have already taped out may be well-suited for a 2027 release but could appear dated in a 2030 market.

Although Sony has not shared details about its next console, Microsoft has described "Helix" as a "premium" device. Leaks also suggest the next Xbox will feature a significantly more powerful processor than the PS6, potentially making it one of the most expensive consoles ever released.

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PlayStation 6 and Next Xbox still expected in 2027 despite memory crisis

 

[Phylop]

Right now, elevated RAM and component costs give them a convenient justification for a higher launch price. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to reset the baseline. Once a higher price point is established, it tends to stick, even after component costs normalize later in the console’s lifecycle.

And realistically, the market will absorb it. People will complain, then buy it anyway.

 

[CrisisDog]

Good luck with that…

 

[acrossthestars]

XSX and PS5 have only been on the market for 2 years, if you consider that the first 3 were spent stuck in supply chain and scalping hell.

However, I'm guessing the actual reason these consoles are being announced―regardless of whether or not it's a good idea―is because quarterly earnings are coming up. If Microsoft and Sony don't announce that something is coming down the pipeline, with AI in it (because they sure aren't moving enough games), then the stock market is going to worry and the stock market is basically the entire economy, at this point.

 

[toooooot]

We are going to see a big fight. Xbox is in disadvantage. They must offer more for less.
It might mean for them to earn no money on their console/PC. But there is no way
they can expect good sales if they offer performance comparable to ps6

 

[Kashim]

However, I'm guessing the actual reason these consoles are being announced―regardless of whether or not it's a good idea―is because quarterly earnings are coming up. If Microsoft and Sony don't announce that something is coming down the pipeline, with AI in it (because they sure aren't moving enough games), then the stock market is going to worry and the stock market is basically the entire economy, at this point.

Like you said, you're guessing, and you're guessing wrong. What do current quarterly earnings have to do with a product that hasn't been announced yet and won't be out for 1.5 years at the EARLIEST?

It's not like either MS or Sony plans to cancel their consoles because of the RAM shortages. Release dates for consoles get pushed back all the time for many different reasons and that will happen with the next generation consoles too.

Stockholders aren't going to react negatively to something more than a year out that may or may not get pushed back. We only know about the RAM shortage because it's happening right now, but considering how far away these console launches are there could be plenty of other things during that time to cause a delay.

Also, people are just assuming the RAM shortage will last years and years, but again, we don't know that. My own guess is that many of these AI startups will start collapsing within a year.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Right now, elevated RAM and component costs give them a convenient justification for a higher launch price. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to reset the baseline. Once a higher price point is established, it tends to stick, even after component costs normalize later in the console’s lifecycle.

And realistically, the market will absorb it. People will complain, then buy it anyway.

There's always someone who would buy overpriced items, but these companies don't make their money on hardware but on software, if there aren't enough people buying these system it would only mean failure in software sales eventually rendering the hardware a failed attempt.... business 101, it's best to lose money on the hardware in order to sell plenty of software.

 

[Rapob]

They should 100% release next gen consoles by 2027/2028 regardless of price.
Lets be honest, they only get 24-32GB anyway.

PS3 launched with a big price tag and still sold well. Many don't care. They eventually get cheaper.

PS5 and XSX launched with massive prices too, due to shortages, did not stop them from doing it. Really bad generation due to lacking exclusives tho. Xbox is pretty much dead as we know it. Not even Microsoft bothers selling Xbox consoles.

 

[BbN48]

They should 100% release next gen consoles by 2027/2028 regardless of price.
Lets be honest, they only get 24-32GB anyway.

PS3 launched with a big price tag and still sold well. Many don't care. They eventually get cheaper.

PS5 and XSX launched with massive prices too, due to shortages, did not stop them from doing it. Really bad generation due to lacking exclusives tho. Xbox is pretty much dead as we know it. Not even Microsoft bothers selling Xbox consoles.

Competition is important though. If you think MS and Sony are being crappy now, you can be certain they'd act more ruthlessly towards the customers if they were the only dog in the fight.

 

[Rapob]

Competition is important though. If you think MS and Sony are being crappy now, you can be certain they'd act more ruthlessly towards the customers if they were the only dog in the fight.

Sony is going the Nintendo route, less/no PC ports and full focus on selling consoles, with exclusives

Microsoft is doing the opposite, leaving consoles really, they prefer others making "Xbox" certified hardware, so they don't have to and they will probably just run Windows in next generation.. Look up xbox project helix

 

[The Talking Tech]

I doubt Siny would release the PlayStation 6 by next year risking the changes of the PS5 to perform even worst in sales and not even catching up to the PS4 lifetime milestone sales.

 

[Endymio]

Right now, elevated RAM and component costs give them a convenient justification for a higher launch price.

So you think a tripling in the costs on major components a manufacturer must pay is just a excuse for raising the price? Next, you'll be saying the loss of 20% of the world oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz is just a "convenient justification" for higher prices.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

They should 100% release next gen consoles by 2027/2028 regardless of price.
Lets be honest, they only get 24-32GB anyway.

PS3 launched with a big price tag and still sold well. Many don't care. They eventually get cheaper.

PS5 and XSX launched with massive prices too, due to shortages, did not stop them from doing it. Really bad generation due to lacking exclusives tho. Xbox is pretty much dead as we know it. Not even Microsoft bothers selling Xbox consoles.

WTF is with this re writing of history? The PS3 sold TERRIBLY and Sony was in a massive financial pit facing bankruptcy at one point. It only managed to squeak out a win against the 360 in its last years of life, but overall was a financial disaster for Sony.

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/shuh...age-was-unbelievably-hard-internally.1680948/

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2008/jun/25/sonyhaslostmorethan3bill

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...siness-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice

 

[Rapob]

WTF is with this re writing of history? The PS3 sold TERRIBLY and Sony was in a massive financial pit facing bankruptcy at one point. It only managed to squeak out a win against the 360 in its last years of life, but overall was a financial disaster for Sony.

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/shuh...age-was-unbelievably-hard-internally.1680948/

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2008/jun/25/sonyhaslostmorethan3bill

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...siness-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice

Sold terrible? Still outsold Xbox 360 by millions, sold 50% more than Xbox One as well
Less gamers back then too

PS3 also struggled with lacking games, just like PS5 does today (similar sales numbers as PS3 pretty much), PS5 is the worst generation in terms of exclusives, at least PS3 had many

PS3 had beefy hardware for its time but games were hard to optimize for the hardware

PS2 and PS4 was the golden generations for sales/exclusives and good multi plat games in general

I could not care if a PS6 is 400, 600 or 800 dollars really, make a Pro version at launch and I will pay 1000-1200 dollars, if it has good games that is - I don't buy a console to play PC games is what I am saying, my PC is better for that.

 

[Billybobjoey]

The PS4/XB1 is still being supported by a bunch of third parties, and Sony in particular have been real bad about putting out a decent number of (new, not remakes) first party games this gen, so I'll ask. What's the point of buying these next gen systems, particularly the PS6? At least the Xbox has the appeal of seemingly just being a PC, to what degree we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Eldrach]

XSX and PS5 have only been on the market for 2 years, if you consider that the first 3 were spent stuck in supply chain and scalping hell.

However, I'm guessing the actual reason these consoles are being announced―regardless of whether or not it's a good idea―is because quarterly earnings are coming up. If Microsoft and Sony don't announce that something is coming down the pipeline, with AI in it (because they sure aren't moving enough games), then the stock market is going to worry and the stock market is basically the entire economy, at this point.

Sony is pulling back on PC releases, going back to what worked - which was console exclusives which..for the current platform, was jawdroppingly good.
If they want to achieve that again, they need new hardware to back it up. Fairly certain games are already being developed for PS6 - with the pure intent of clawing back market share.
It’s also the perfect moment to release an 1100 dollar console - with the insane component pricing in the current market it’s «reasonably priced» in comparison

 

[acrossthestars]

Stockholders aren't going to react negatively to something more than a year out that may or may not get pushed back.

After multiple companies have posted disastrous results, where AI either produced no results or cost money, shareholders want to be told that the hype is still on burning hot.

It's not about quarterly earnings now, it's about pricing in the cost of AI later. It's about knowing that all of that money didn't literally just go down the drain. Because, if enough major companies stop shipping products with AI, that signals to the market that AI was, in fact, a fever dream―a mass-marketed manic episode of bad decisions, rampant spending and unprecedented levels of histrionic corporate gaslighting about the "future returns from this 'untapped technology'" ―and it will all come to an end. The gig will be up.

Also, people are just assuming the RAM shortage will last years and years, but again, we don't know that.

Yes, and there's no reason to assume otherwise. There were only three manufacturers of RAM, and one of them (Micron) just left the consumer market to hunt the AI bubble in the corporate sector. Short of a sudden implosion in the AI market, that forces serious comtemplation and reconciliation of all actors involved, the shortages are here to stay.

Unless a new player enters the market in the intervening time, it might not even be a question of "when until the market returns to normal". If SKhynix and/or Samsung decide to follow suite, because the temptation to go "all in" on AI is too great, then the consumer RAM market disappears entirely. That would be a massive upset for the entire economy, as it's a very short list of things that don't run an integrated circuit somewhere. However, "upset" seems to be the theme of this decade, so that wouldn't even be surprising, at this point.