Analysts talk about the price of the PlayStation 6 and suggest that it will likely be much higher than consumers would like. It could be a bleak time for gaming fans as the PlayStation 6 and other consoles may cross triple digits.
The gaming craze has been halted due to parts shortages, exacerbated by companies that previously made parts for consumer hardware leaving the market. As a result, where prices would typically drop as consoles age, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have seen price increases during their five years on the market. Unfortunately, the next generation could be even worse in price.
Analysts have a worrying prediction about the PS6 price
Now, industry analysts talking to GameIndustry.biz have discussed the upcoming console and have a disturbing opinion that the PlayStation 6 could very well cost $1000 or more. Joost van Dreunen, CEO of analytics firm Aldora, believes the base price of the PlayStation 6 could exceed $1,000. Circana's Mat Piscatella had similar thoughts and said it's possible the price could be $1,000. Even those who shared lower numbers didn't stray that far from four figures.
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An analysis by Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere shows that Sony's history in the electronics business may allow Sony to overcome the difficulties that companies like Valve have with supply chains. Newzoo's Manu Rosier suggests that next-gen consoles may launch under $999, but that this would largely be for marketing and psychological purposes. A three-figure price seems more accessible than a four-figure one, even if they're only dollars apart. With the PS5 Pro currently priced at $899.99, it might be hard to imagine a brand new next-gen console adding just $100 or less over the price of its predecessor.
This all comes as Valve finally opened up registrations to purchase the Steam Machine, which turned out to be more expensive than Valve had hoped. The base price of $1049 has been tempting for many players and is a worrying sign of things to come. However, it should be noted that Valve does not subsidize its hardware as console manufacturers often do, as game consoles sometimes sell for less than what they cost to make. Companies like Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft make up for the loss of time by selling games, so compared to Valve there is still little chance of making a system at a lower price.
However, the future is muddy when it comes to predicting the cost of hardware parts in 2-3 years when the PlayStation 6 is rumored to launch. If the so-called AI bubble were to burst, it is possible that the overall cost of hardware parts could drop enough to reduce the cost to consumers. However, if demand for AI data center components remains stable or even increases, console prices could be even worse than imagined. Although Sony and Xbox are already eyeing the next generation of consoles, it may ultimately be difficult for gamers to move up if prices are as high as these analysts predict.
