Sony considering PlayStation 6 delay to 2029, while Nintendo could hike Switch 2 price, according to report — memory and storage chip shortage now impacting products outside of RAM, storage, and GPUs
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The memory and storage chip shortage that has been causing RAM, SSD, and GPU prices to skyrocket is now starting to affect other products. Valve has recently announced that Steam Deck availability is now intermittent due to the current situation, and Bloomberg now reports that Sony and Nintendo are considering taking drastic actions, too.
“Sony Group Corp. is now considering pushing back the debut of its next PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029, according to people familiar with the company’s thinking. That would be a major upset to a carefully orchestrated strategy to sustain user engagement between hardware generations,” the publication said. “Close rival Nintendo Co., which contributed to the surplus demand in 2025 after its new Switch 2 console drove storage card purchases, is also contemplating raising the price of that device in 2026, people familiar with its plans said.”
While both companies do not disclose how they manage component orders, they likely have long-term agreements in place with various memory chip suppliers to help keep their costs predictable. But because of the continued massive demand from data centers and AI hyperscalers, chip manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK hynix have reduced their output for consumer memory, resulting in higher prices in the spot market and when customers sign new contracts.
If the reports are accurate, Sony and Nintendo are applying differing strategies to deal with the situation. Nintendo is willing to increase the price of the Switch 2 to offset the increased memory and storage costs, especially as it is selling the new console at slim profit margins. The company has done this before with the original Nintendo Switch, which had its price increased by $30 to $50 in response to economic pressures.
On the other hand, Sony’s rumored tactic would be to delay the next-generation PlayStation for more favorable pricing. We’re unsure how long the memory chip shortage will last, with some estimates pointing out that it could go on for as long as a decade. Nevertheless, some believe that the memory chip fabs would’ve caught up with the demand by 2028 or 2029, meaning prices would’ve stabilized by then, even if they do not return to pre-shortage levels.
The news of chip shortages has been circulating among PC enthusiasts since the last quarter of 2025, but it seems that that is just the beginning. Gaming consoles and handhelds are now feeling the pinch, with mobile phones expected to follow suit. Even cars will be hit by the shortage, especially as nearly every modern feature found in automobiles requires DRAM and NAND.
Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.
If Sony delays the PS6 that long its over for playstation. The OG PS5 is old as crap at this point, and barely can do 4k/30. The PS5 Pro will hold up a smidge longer since it at least has a chance at 4k/60 with intensive games like GTA 6. But a console stretch this long will spell game over for Sony as everyone switches to PC/Steam PC/Xbox Magnus. Heck, even if the next Xbox is $1000, if it comes out next year and has the specs they say it will...then PC by leaps and bounds wins. Sony is making a grave mistake if they think they can milk the PS5/Pro for this long without an update. Xbox maybe maybe did the right thing not releasing a mid-cycle refresh because it's allowing them the possibility of getting a huge jump on Sony for the next-gen.
And I say this as someone who sold 2 of their Xbox Series X and kept only the PS5 Pro because Microsoft seemed to have given up on the Series X years ago... But hey, if Sony thinks they can coast till 2028/29 and the new Xbox comes out next year, I am confident a lot of us will sign right back up for the MSFT train.
I like the idea of longer console generations. I don't think developers have fully explored the potential of the PS5 with all their franchises yet. I want to see another Ratchet and Clank, Horizon, Spiderman (or replace Spiderman with Iron Man), and similar games. A new Palworld that delivers on that long-desired "Pokemon Breath of the Wild" concept would also be great and achievable with the current generation.
Would a PS6 help push graphics forward? Yeah, sure. However, I'm feeling very satisfied with today's level of graphics. I want more from the gameplay possibilities, story, and characters. Let's also not forget that the Steam Machine will influence what Sony does so sitting back and waiting makes sense.
As for the Switch 2, I saw the Mario Kart bundle in my local Costco for under $400 recently. It's still overpriced for what you get. Game key carts, oppressive DRM, egregious banning and bricking capabilities, funding Nintendo's litigious ambitions, very few games worth playing, and other problems make that platform way too toxic to invest in.
If Sony delays the PS6 that long its over for playstation. The OG PS5 is old as crap at this point, and barely can do 4k/30. The PS5 Pro will hold up a smidge longer since it at least has a chance at 4k/60 with intensive games like GTA 6. But a console stretch this long will spell game over for Sony as everyone switches to PC/Steam PC/Xbox Magnus. Heck, even if the next Xbox is $1000, if it comes out next year and has the specs they say it will...then PC by leaps and bounds wins. Sony is making a grave mistake if they think they can milk the PS5/Pro for this long without an update. Xbox maybe maybe did the right thing not releasing a mid-cycle refresh because it's allowing them the possibility of getting a huge jump on Sony for the next-gen.
And I say this as someone who sold 2 of their Xbox Series X and kept only the PS5 Pro because Microsoft seemed to have given up on the Series X years ago... But hey, if Sony thinks they can coast till 2028/29 and the new Xbox comes out next year, I am confident a lot of us will sign right back up for the MSFT train.
But what are the alternatives? There won't be the usual cadence of new graphics cards either, and with PC RAM prices being what they are, most people will be reluctant to upgrade.
This may just be a very long generation for multiple reasons - lack of investment in game development projects being yet another angle (investment last year was the lowest it's been in decades, and it takes a number of years before investment translates into changes in market offerings). The next few years may very well go down in infamy in the gaming community.
