PlayStation 6 may not arrive until 2029 while Nintendo faces Switch 2 price hike
The console industry has never been more unpredictable. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Sony has already delayed the launch of the next PlayStation to 2028 – possibly even 2029. This suggests that at some point there were genuine plans to release a PS5 replacement as early as next year.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is facing the reality of revising Switch 2's pricing strategy. The company previously assured buyers that no price increase was planned, but added a caveat – guaranteeing price stability amid market uncertainty and rising component costs was impossible. Now, according to the same report, Nintendo leadership is seriously considering raising the console's price before the end of 2026.
The main driver behind this situation is the skyrocketing cost of RAM fueled by AI industry demand. Data centers required to power AI systems are consuming massive quantities of chips, and companies are willing to pay whatever it takes. Semiconductor manufacturers have openly stated that this sector now takes priority.
For Sony and Nintendo, this means not just dramatically higher component costs, but actual shortages. Console manufacturing is becoming significantly more expensive, inevitably reflected in consumer prices – or, in PlayStation's case, leading to launch delays in hopes the situation stabilizes.
Notably, the extended PS5 generation hasn't sparked much discontent among gamers. Despite being over five years since launch, many still feel the PS5 era has only just begun. A delay until 2029 might actually work in Sony's favor. Though one has to wonder – won't the hardware be outdated by then, especially amid the AI boom?
Nintendo faces a tougher situation. Switch 2 is already out and was necessary – the original console had long exhausted its capabilities. From a gaming standpoint, the timing was perfect, but economically, it couldn't be worse. A console some already call overpriced risks becoming even more expensive in the coming months.
