PS5 and Switch 2 prices set to rise again as memory chip costs more than double

The memory shortage crisis is set to get worse before it gets better, with hardware components projected to see price hikes as high as 75%.

While it is widely assumed that the PlayStation 6 and Xbox’s Project Helix console will be out in late 2027, or 2028 at the latest, you have to wonder how likely that really is when hardware components keep growing more expensive.

Since the end of last year, there have been frequent reports on the memory shortage crisis, brought on by AI companies hoarding most of the hardware, which has had a knock-on effect on the prices of new and current consoles. There’s subsequently been suggestions that PlayStation 6 and Project Helix could be delayed, although Sony and Microsoft have never commented on the situation.

The shutdown of Sora, which allowed people to make AI generated videos, has sparked some hope that the bubble is about to burst and AI is on its way out, but that appears to be too optimistic, as it’s predicted that memory prices will only rise again in the coming months.

According to a memory pricing survey conducted by TrendForce, there is still high demand from AI data centres for more DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) and NAND (a type of flash memory).

As such, DRAM contract prices are projected to increase anywhere from 57% to 63%, while NAND contract prices will soar even higher by 70% to 75%.

TrendForce says this is predicted to occur throughout the second quarter of 2026, but it’s unclear if it means the period of April to June or if it’s referring to the second quarter of the financial year, which typically covers July to September.

DRAM and NAND are commonly used in computers, game consoles, and smartphones. So, if both are set to become more expensive, that’ll inevitably lead to increased prices on hardware, so companies can turn a profit.

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Sony and Microsoft have yet to comment on prices for their next consoles, but Valve already said its upcoming Steam Machine (a gaming PC in a console shell) won’t be sold at a loss and will be priced similarly to a PC.

Whatever price Valve was considering may very well have shot up since then because, of these memory shortages. In fact, Valve admitted the shortages had altered its launch plans and if the situation worsens, this could result in stock shortages once the Steam Machine does launch.

Software stands to be impacted too, since the Nintendo Switch 2 game cartridges make use of NAND. Digital versions of games are already notably cheaper so further price increases only risk a decrease on physical game sales, which have already been dropping over the years and resulted in dedicated game retailers vanishing from the high streets.

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