PlayStation 6 could cost over $1,000 as memory prices surge
Sony‘s upcoming PlayStation 6 could cost more than $1,000 as rising memory prices push the estimated cost of its components towards record levels, according to new claims from hardware insider KeplerL2.
Posting on the NeoGAF forum, the leaker claimed that the console’s RAM and SSD storage alone now cost more than $680, excluding its processor, motherboard, cooling system and other components.
The figure exceeds the current US retail price of the standard PlayStation 5, which costs $649.99. It also represents a significant increase from previous estimates of the next-generation console’s manufacturing expenses.
Earlier this year, KeplerL2 estimated the PS6’s total component costs at approximately $760. By July, that figure had reportedly climbed to around $960, according to Push Square.
Why could the PlayStation 6 be so expensive?
The rising costs are reportedly linked to global shortages of DRAM and NAND memory, driven partly by demand from artificial intelligence data centres.
According to Rozetked, the PS6 could feature at least 24GB of memory, although other leaks suggest configurations of 30GB or even 40GB of GDDR7 RAM.
Wccftech estimates that GDDR7 memory currently costs approximately $20 per gigabyte. However, neither the memory configuration nor the component prices have been confirmed by Sony.
Industry observers suggest that the console’s total component bill could now exceed $1,000, making a substantially higher retail price possible.
Sony could theoretically sell the console below its manufacturing cost and recover the difference through game sales, subscriptions and other services. However, such a strategy would become increasingly expensive if component prices remain elevated.
When will the PS6 be released?
Sony has not officially announced the PlayStation 6, its specifications or its retail price.
Reports suggest the company is targeting a late 2027 launch, although the schedule remains unconfirmed and could change depending on production costs and component availability.
The rising estimates have also renewed speculation about whether Sony might reduce the console’s memory capacity to control costs.
The PS5 launched in 2020 at $499.99 for the disc edition and $399.99 for the Digital Edition. By comparison, the PS5 Pro now costs $899.99 in the United States following Sony’s April 2026 price increases.
