Sony PlayStation 6 According to a report by a hardware insider on social media, the console could be expensive to manufacture. Although Sony remained tight-lipped about the price and capabilities of the next PlayStation console, the cost to produce and sell each unit would depend on several lingering market factors, such as the DRAM shortage crisis.
The latest PS6 news comes amid a controversial period for the PlayStation brand. Due to the aforementioned RAM crisis affecting prices across the entire global economy, the prices of the PS5 range of consoles will be increased worldwide starting Thursday, April 2nd. The PS5 Slim disc console will start at $649.99, up from the current $549, with the digital variant dropping from $499 to $599. The biggest price jump will be for the PS5 Pro, as it will go from $749 to $899, a $150 increase from where it is now. So console buyers don't have much time to get their hands on a new PS5 system before prices go up on April 2nd.
Another free PS Plus game for April 2026 has been leaked
Just days after the first free PlayStation Plus game for April 2026 was leaked, the same source reveals a second title for subscribers.
The PS6 could cost Sony around $760 to produce
Although PS6 rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, a hardware insider has shared how much the next-gen console could cost Sony to produce per unit. In a thread dedicated to PS5 price increases, hardware insider KeplerL2 posted on NeoGAF after being asked how much the PS6 could cost at launch. KeplerL2 said their current bill of materials (BOM) estimate for the PS6 is around $760, with a potential subsidized manufacturing cost of $699 also likely. However, KeplerL2 also asked if Sony would consider a subsidized manufacturing price. It's worth noting that the BOM estimate is not the same as the MSRP, and that the actual price consumers could pay for the PS6 would be much higher than the estimated material costs. Since the Xbox Project Helix could have an MSRP of over $1,000, the PS6 could follow suit.
According to various reports and leaks about the PS6, Sony's next-gen system could have features such as a removable disc drive and a handheld version of the console similar to the Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Deck. The PS6 is also said to use AMD components such as an 8-core Zen 6 APU with RDNA 5 graphics, making it capable of high-fidelity ray tracing at various resolutions. Since Project Helix also works with AMD for its components, the fact that Microsoft's new console could break the $1,000 mark means that Sony's PS6 could also cost consumers a hefty sum once the next-gen system hits store shelves.
The ongoing RAM crisis may dictate the production costs of the PS6
One of the key factors behind the high production BOM is the ongoing DRAM shortage crisis. From autumn 2025, the prices of RAM, SSD and other necessary components for PCs, consoles and other electronics have skyrocketed. However, at the time of writing, the prices of some DDR5 RAM kits have started to drop because consumers are not buying them at their current prices. For example, the price of Corsair Vengeance 32GB DDR5 RAM kits has dropped from the previous rate of $427.99 to $321.10 on Amazon. While prices still remain higher than they were before the crisis, we'll see if DDR5 RAM prices continue to drop over time.
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While Project Helix and the PS6 are rumored to launch in 2027 at the earliest, the ongoing RAM crisis and uncertain market conditions could force Microsoft and Sony to rethink their plans. However, the potential pricing of next-gen systems from Sony and Microsoft remains a fluid situation that customers should keep an eye on.
- Date of establishment
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May 7, 1946
- Headquarters
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Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
