The gaming world is facing an uncomfortable reality check. RAM prices have skyrocketed by 500% in recent months, and the culprit isn’t crypto mining or supply chain disasters. It’s artificial intelligence, and the fallout could fundamentally reshape when and how much you’ll pay for the next PlayStation and Xbox.
According to industry insider Tom Henderson, console manufacturers are actively debating whether to delay next-generation consoles beyond their planned 2027-2028 launch window. The alternative? Releasing them at what Henderson describes as “extortionate” prices that most gamers simply can’t afford.
Why AI Data Centers Are Eating the World’s Memory Supply
The explosion in generative AI has created an insatiable demand for memory modules. AI data centers require staggering amounts of RAM to function. A single rack of NVIDIA’s GB300 solution uses 20 terabytes of HBM3E and 17 terabytes of LPDDR5X. That 17TB of LPDDR5X alone could build memory for a thousand laptops, and modern data centers contain thousands of these racks.
Memory manufacturers have shifted their production priorities to serve this lucrative AI market, leaving consumer electronics and gaming hardware fighting for scraps. Goldman Sachs research indicates that demand for both High Bandwidth Memory and conventional DRAM continues to significantly outstrip supply, with no relief expected throughout 2026.
The numbers tell a stark story. Contract prices for 16GB DDR5 chips jumped from roughly $6.84 in September 2025 to $27.20 by December, a nearly 300% increase in just three months. Some retail DDR5 modules saw prices balloon from $260 to $498 in the same period. Framework, the modular laptop company, raised its memory prices by 50% and warned customers to expect further increases.
Current Generation Consoles Aren’t Safe Either
The RAM shortage doesn’t just threaten future hardware. Your Xbox Series X, Series S, and PlayStation 5 could all see price increases in the coming months. Moore’s Law Is Dead, a well-known hardware leaker, suggested Microsoft may be forced to raise prices on existing Xbox consoles again to offset rising component costs.
This puts Sony and Microsoft in an impossible position. Console sales in the United States already saw a surprising slowdown in November 2025. Raising prices on seven-year-old hardware during a cost-of-living crisis could tank sales further, but maintaining current prices means eating substantial losses on every unit sold.
What a Delayed Next Generation Actually Means
If Sony and Microsoft decide to push back their next-generation launches, we could be looking at a 2029 or 2030 release window for the PS6 and whatever Microsoft calls its next Xbox. That would make the current generation consoles nine to ten years old by the time replacements arrive, far longer than any previous console cycle.
The hope is that RAM manufacturers will expand their production infrastructure during this delay, allowing memory supply to catch up with demand and prices to normalize. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra has already indicated that memory shortages will persist beyond calendar 2026, which doesn’t inspire confidence in a quick recovery.
There’s also the possibility that console makers simply release next-gen hardware at dramatically higher price points. Some analysts have speculated that a PS6 could launch at $1,000 or more given current memory costs. That pricing would price out the vast majority of potential customers and fundamentally change what a gaming console represents in the market.
The Gaming PC Market Is Already Feeling the Pain
PC gamers don’t have the luxury of waiting. RAM and SSD prices are spiking now, turning what should be routine upgrades into major financial decisions. CyberPowerPC announced price increases effective December 7, 2025, citing the 500% RAM price surge and 100% SSD price increases. Major manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and HP have warned of 15-20% PC price hikes in early 2026.
Some retailers have even started selling RAM at daily market prices rather than fixed rates, treating memory modules like commodities that fluctuate based on supply and demand. Memory now accounts for roughly 18% of a new PC’s bill of materials, about double what it was in 2024.
The situation has become so dire that reports suggest NVIDIA may cancel or trim its upcoming RTX 5000 Super GPU lineup if sufficient memory can’t be procured. AMD and NVIDIA’s 2026 roadmaps are both reportedly under review as graphics card manufacturers struggle to secure GDDR memory supplies.
Is There Any Good News?
Goldman Sachs research suggests the worst of the supply-demand imbalance will occur in 2026, with gradual improvement expected in 2027. Memory manufacturers Samsung and SK Hynix could potentially increase DRAM production to serve consumer markets, though they currently seem content focusing on the more profitable AI datacenter business.
Some analysts predict memory shortages could persist through 2027 or even into 2028, meaning multiple years of elevated prices regardless of when console makers decide to launch. The timeline for a return to pre-2025 pricing remains unclear, with estimates ranging from two to four years depending on how aggressively manufacturers expand production capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the PS6 and next Xbox definitely be delayed?
Nothing is confirmed yet. Console manufacturers are reportedly debating whether to delay launches from the planned 2027-2028 window. The decision will likely depend on whether RAM prices stabilize in 2026 or continue climbing. If prices don’t improve, a delay becomes much more likely than releasing consoles at prices most consumers can’t afford.
How much could a PS6 or next Xbox cost if launched during the RAM shortage?
Some analysts have speculated prices could reach $1,000 to $1,300 or higher if console makers tried to launch during peak memory prices. For comparison, the PS5 launched at $499 for the disc version. Such a dramatic price increase would likely result in significantly lower adoption rates and could fundamentally change the console market.
Why are AI data centers causing RAM shortages for gaming?
AI data centers require massive amounts of memory to process machine learning workloads. A single NVIDIA GB300 server rack uses enough memory for a thousand laptops. Memory manufacturers have prioritized this highly profitable AI market over consumer electronics, leaving gaming hardware competing for limited remaining supply. There are currently no plans to convert production lines away from AI-focused memory.
Will current PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles get more expensive?
Industry insiders suggest price increases are possible for existing consoles as component costs rise. Microsoft in particular may need to raise Xbox Series X and Series S prices to offset losses. However, this is a risky move given that console sales already slowed in late 2025, and higher prices could further depress demand.
When will RAM and SSD prices return to normal?
Goldman Sachs research suggests the supply-demand imbalance will be worst in 2026, with gradual improvement beginning in 2027. However, Micron’s CEO stated shortages will persist beyond 2026, and some analysts predict elevated prices through 2027 or 2028. A return to 2024 pricing levels could take three to four years depending on production capacity expansion.
Are any gaming devices safe from the RAM shortage?
No gaming platform is immune. PC gaming faces immediate price impacts. Console manufacturers are debating delays or price increases. Even Valve’s rumored Steam Machine may be delayed from its anticipated Q1 2026 launch window due to memory costs. Handheld gaming PCs using DDR5 or LPDDR5X are also affected, with manufacturers warning of substantial price hikes.
Should I buy a gaming PC or console now or wait?
If you need hardware now, buying sooner rather than later may be wise since prices are expected to continue rising through 2026. However, if you can wait until 2027, supply-demand conditions should begin improving. For next-gen consoles specifically, they won’t launch before late 2027 at the earliest, and possibly much later if manufacturers delay.
Conclusion
The RAM price crisis represents an unprecedented challenge for the gaming industry. What began as an AI infrastructure boom has cascaded into a supply shortage that threatens to reshape console generations, pricing strategies, and accessibility for millions of gamers worldwide. Sony and Microsoft face an unenviable choice between delaying their next-generation hardware or launching at prices that could alienate their core audience. Meanwhile, PC gamers are already experiencing the financial pain of a market where memory has become a premium commodity rather than a routine component. The next two years will determine whether this shortage resolves into a temporary disruption or marks a permanent shift in gaming hardware economics. For now, the only certainty is that the age of affordable gaming upgrades has come to an abrupt and unwelcome pause.