According to Insider Gaming, a sharp rise in RAM prices, caused by the artificial intelligence boom, may lead to a delay in the release of next-generation game consoles.
Sources told the publication that discussions are already underway at a high level about the impact of RAM shortages on plans to release new consoles.
The entire gaming industry is concerned about the availability of RAM and its impact on the mass production of gaming devices at competitive prices. The problem concerns not only the next generation, but may also provoke additional price increases for current consoles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S) as early as 2026.
In recent months, prices for RAM modules have increased several times due to huge demand from AI developers. As interest in artificial intelligence does not weaken, the memory shortage may persist for a long time, and prices will continue to rise.
This puts console manufacturers in a difficult position. Traditionally, consoles were sold with subsidies to keep the price affordable, but now new devices, which were already expected to be more expensive than previous generations, risk becoming excessively expensive.