Overview
- Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson reports that manufacturers are debating pushing consoles planned for 2027–2028 to a later window to wait for improved memory availability and pricing.
- Coverage attributes the squeeze to rapid AI and data-center demand, with reports citing RAM module price increases of several hundred percent in recent months.
- The same reporting warns of possible additional price hikes for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2026 as component costs rise.
- Vice highlights Micron’s plan to exit parts of the consumer RAM market in 2026 to focus on AI and enterprise clients, reducing supply for consumer hardware.
- Some insiders say capacity expansions are underway, leaving the duration of the shortage uncertain, while analyst commentary suggests next-gen launch prices could be far higher than past cycles, with estimates reaching $800–$1,000.