The possible arrival of PS6 and the new Xbox It no longer depends solely on graphics technology or processor power. The major bottleneck now lies in a much less flashy but absolutely crucial component: RAM memory and storageThe artificial intelligence boom has completely disrupted the market and placed the video game industry in a precarious situation.
In recent months, various industry sources, such as Gaming insiders and hardware analysts, point to Sony and Microsoft They are reviewing their plans for the next generation. The historically high cost of RAM, stock shortages, and the priority manufacturers are giving to AI data centers could delay the launch of PS6 and the future Xbox and, incidentally, make current consoles even more expensive in Europe and the rest of the world.
AI empties the memory store: a problem that affects consoles
The origin of the mess lies in the enormous growth of artificial intelligenceLarge AI models require enormous amounts of DRAM and VRAM to train and operate, and this has led to a demand for RAM far exceeding current production capacityMajor manufacturers (Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix, among others) are focusing their production lines on supplying data centers and large AI platforms, leaving markets like consoles in the background.
This change in priorities translates into two immediate effects: price increases and lack of availabilityVarious reports already mention cost increases of several hundred percentage points compared to the beginning of 2025. In some cases, RAM costs almost three times as much. than a year ago, and the trend for 2026 remains clearly bullish.
The pressure isn't limited to DRAM. It's also being felt in the market for NAND storage for SSDs and memory cardsSD card manufacturers have warned of price increases of up to 123%, and the 1 TB SSD Mid-range prices have gone from around $50-$90 to between $70 and $120, with forecasts that they will continue to become more expensive throughout 2026.
This whole scenario turns memory into a strategic and scarce resourceFor the gaming sector, where the final price of the console is very sensitive and margins are tight, every increase in the cost of RAM or SSD greatly complicates the equation.
PS6 and the next Xbox: from a 2027-2028 window to an increasingly blurred horizon
Until not too long ago, the roadmap that the industry was using spoke of a PS6 and new Xbox launch between 2027 and 2028The current PS5 and Xbox Series X|S would then be around seven or eight years old on the market, a fairly common cycle for modern home consoles.
However, recent reports indicate that Sony and Microsoft are already seriously considering delaying that window.From the podcast and reports of Insiders Gaming Even leaks from hardware manufacturers suggest the same thing: with current RAM and SSD prices, Manufacturing millions of next-generation consoles is not viable without driving up the retail price..
Some sources even mention that PS6 and the future Xbox (often referred to as Xbox Magnus or Xbox Next-Gen) They could leave beyond 2028...approaching the end of the decade. In that scenario, we would be facing one of the longest generations since modern consoles became standardized, with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S easily exceeding eight years of life cycle.
Meanwhile, there are rumors that the new Xbox is geared as premium product and hybrid between console and PC It could be priced well above current consoles. There has been talk of prices exceeding 1.000 euros or dollars, a figure that, with the rising cost of memory, is now even more unrealistic. It falls short if specifications are not adjusted. or the launch is delayed to wait for better times.
In the offices of Sony and Microsoft A climate of caution is described: internal dates are no longer considered certain and planning teams are comparing two complicated scenarios, either releasing the console in the planned window at a very high price, or delaying it to avoid a head-on collision with the wallet of the European and global player.
Memory as a cost factor: from just another component to the centerpiece of the bill
Until now, the focus of the generational debate has usually been on the GPU or the CPU. However, cost data is starting to make it clear that Memory will be one of the most expensive components of a next-generation consoleJust look at the approximate example of a modern machine like Xbox Series X, which integrates 16 GB of GDDR6 memory shared and a 1 TB SSD.
At the beginning of 2025, the estimated price per GB of GDDR6 when buying in large volumes ranged between 2,5 and $ 3That brought the cost of those 16 GB to a range of 40 to 48 dollarsWith the price increase (around 60% more by the end of the year), that same memory block would cost approximately between 72 and 88 dollars only in RAM.
If we add storage, the 1 TB SSD which were previously in the $50-$90 range have risen to 70-120 dollarsAdding RAM and SSD, an Xbox Series X-type configuration would currently run around $175 cost for memory alone, compared to just over $110 originally. And various analysts warn that, looking ahead to 2026, It's easy for that figure to exceed $200 per unit.
Considering that a console like the Series X was released to the market for $499 and that, over time, its price in some markets has reached $649,99 or about €599, the weight of memory has become a huge chunk of the total billIf we consider a PS6 or a new generation Xbox with, for example, 24 or 32 GB of faster RAM (GDDR7, DDR6 or similar) and a larger capacity SSD, the cost can easily skyrocket.
This reality explains recent decisions such as the one reduce storage capacity in certain console models (for example, adjusting from 1 TB to about 825 GB in Slim versions) to avoid further price increasesYou still pay the same, but you get less memory, a solution that demonstrates the extent to which RAM and SSDs influence strategy.
Direct impact on Europe and current consoles: less stock and possible price increases
The problem doesn't just affect the future. Various reports indicate that, From 2026 onwards, there could be less stock of current devices.Desktop PCs, laptops, mini-PCs for living rooms and, of course, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2If memory becomes more expensive and scarce, manufacturers will have to prioritize which models to produce and in what quantities.
In the specific case of Europe and Spain, where the price of electronics is already usually affected by taxes, exchange rate and logistics costsAny increase in the base cost of the components can translate into higher RRP or fewer units availableIt is already being said in some circles that Further price increases for current consoles are not ruled out. if RAM continues to become more expensive in 2026.
One of the most visible consequences could be the reduction of aggressive offers and discounted packsTraditionally, as a console's life cycle progresses, manufacturers resort to bundles with games and price drops to boost sales; but if internal costs rise, The margin for making large discounts is narrowing.This is something that is already starting to be noticeable in some models on the European market.
In parallel, other devices in the gaming ecosystem They're in the same situation. Gaming laptops, mini PCs, and projects like certain Consolidated Steam Machine and PCs They have been forced to revise their plans. Brands like Lenovo or HP have reportedly opted to delay new laptop launches or adjust specifications (for example, selling equipment with only 8 GB of RAM) to avoid spiking the final price.
Gaming Insider, Tom Henderson, and the signals coming from within the industry
Much of the information that has raised alarms comes from Tom Henderson and Insider GamingThey are often the ones who predict Sony and Microsoft's moves. According to their reports, Internal discussions about RAM began to intensify in late 2025, when it became clear that the demand for AI was not going to be a passing phenomenon.
The sources consulted speak of strategic meetings in which different launch scenarios are discussedacceptable margins and technical configurations. The key is that RAM is a very sensitive design element.: determines the target resolution, the level of graphical detail, the size of open worlds, and the speed of loading times.
According to these reports, companies are considering two main paths. On the one hand, Maintain technical ambition and accept a very high starting pricemore typical of a mid-to-high-end PC than a traditional console. On the other hand, delay the launch of PS6 and the new Xbox one or more years to allow time for the memory industry to expand capacity, stabilize prices, and enable the offering of powerful hardware at a somewhat more reasonable cost.
The reports also indicate that the problem extends throughout the entire supply chain: memory manufacturers that are shifting their focus to AI, as is the case with Micron, which has closed its Crucial brand to focus on enterprise customersand giant projects like the initiative OpenAI's Stargate, valued at hundreds of billions of dollars and which could consume a huge portion of global RAM productionAll of this leaves markets like the console market with less room to maneuver.
In this context, it is not surprising that Nintendo is also affectedThe upcoming Switch 2 will appear in a much more expensive and contested memory environment, and some analysts suggest that even the fluctuations in Nintendo's stock price They may be linked to doubts about the availability of DRAM for their upcoming hardware.
Longer cycles, highly anticipated games, and a tense market
Current consoles, PS5 and Xbox Series, along with the anticipated Switch 2, are part of the ninth generationLaunched in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. With five years already completed, many European users assumed that The jump to PS6 and the next Xbox would arrive around 2027, perhaps 2028 at the latest, following the logic of cycles of about seven years.
The problem is that the combination of initial stock shortage due to the pandemic, rising costs, and a memory crisis is pushing for This generation will last longer than expectedIn fact, some market movements fit with that idea, such as Sony's commitment to improving image upscaling technologies in PS5 Pro (like PSSR) for to get the most out of the current hardware without needing to launch a new platform.
Meanwhile, it is said that Big releases like GTA 6 could move towards later windows, such as 2027, which would give companies even more arguments to Continue supporting PS5 and Xbox Series before making the leap to the next generation. Such a timeline reduces the urgency to launch the PS6 and the new Xbox in the midst of a RAM price storm.
Meanwhile, there is no shortage of contradictory information about When might the memory market normalize?Some suggest that real stabilization will not arrive until around 2030, while other more recent reports speak of a possible relief starting in 2027What does seem clear is that 2026 will continue to be a complicated year for anyone who needs large amounts of RAM, including Sony and Microsoft.
If the new consoles were to be released in 2027, the mass production would have to start during 2026This comes at one of the most critical moments of the memory crisis. This coincidence is what fuels predictions of a virtually inevitable delay, although there have been no official announcements and the brands remain silent.
What can the player expect in the coming years?
With all these factors on the table, the outlook for the player in Spain and the rest of Europe is shaping up to be a mixture of continuity and cautionOn the one hand, everything indicates that PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 will remain at the forefront for a longer time What many had imagined. The strategy will involve revised versions, software improvements, services, and games that fully utilize current hardware.
On the other hand, it is reasonable to expect firmer prices and fewer aggressive discounts on consoles and gaming devices that rely on a lot of RAM or fast SSDs. The scarcity and rising cost of memory make it difficult to lower the retail price without sacrificing profits, so consumers may find themselves facing more limited offers and less generous promotional cycles than in previous generations.
This context can also influence how companies design their systems. It wouldn't be surprising to see strategies that prioritize upscaling technologies, graphics engine optimization, and intelligent memory usage to offer visual leaps without multiplying the amount of integrated RAM by two or three, something that would increase the cost of each unit.
Despite the noise of rumors and leaks, there is one point on which virtually all sources agree: The demand for memory will not decrease in the short term.AI will continue to grow, data centers will expand their capacity, and competition between industries for access to DRAM and NAND will be intense. In this landscape, consoles will cease to be the star client and will have to adapt.
In this turbulent context, The arrival of the PS6 and the new Xbox has become almost a symptom of the global balance of the technology industry.When memory becomes more abundant again and its prices stabilize, it will be much easier for Sony and Microsoft to push the button on the next generation; until then, everything points to us having to live longer with the current consoles, with one eye on prices and the other on how the RAM market evolves.
