The PlayStation 6 According to industry analysts, the price could be as high as $1,000 after the inevitable release. Sony recently announced price increases for its PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal systems, a move that could affect pricing plans for the next generation of consoles. Despite the PlayStation 6 likely still being a few years away after Sony reportedly delayed its launch internally, recent price hikes for current-generation hardware suggest the next generation of consoles will be even more expensive.
Not much is currently known about Sony's next-gen console, although there have been rumors such as a removable disc drive and a handheld component for the PS6. On the other hand, Microsoft has already teased its next-gen Xbox with the announcement of Project Helix, which is also rumored to cost somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500 when it comes out. If these predicted prices are accurate, the next generation of consoles could put more pressure on gamers' wallets than ever before.
The PS6 may be coming out later than you think
A financial analyst explains why Sony may release the PlayStation 6 later than many early predictions suggested, leaving fans disappointed.
Industry analysts predict that the PlayStation 6 could cost at least $1,000
In an interview with GamesRadar+, CEO of consulting firm Kantan Games, Dr. Serkan Toto, explains that the recent price increase of Sony's current generation hardware is the beginning of the company's preparation for future market fluctuations, as instability with United States tariffs and rising component prices make it difficult to predict the next generation of hardware. This further states that a $999 PS6 variant seems very possible given the new price of the PS5 Pro.
This also notes that it's possible that Sony will raise the price of the PS6 at launch to ensure future deals and price drops should the market smooth out over the console's lifespan.
GamesRadar+ also shared an interview with NYU video game professor Joost van Dreunen that supports this analysis. Dreunen says the current direction of the gaming industry is one that sees a $1,000 console as the norm and believes “console gaming will become a luxury expense.” Console gamers are already struggling with the price of PC games, with a steady march towards the $1000 console price, which would essentially eliminate the value advantage that console gaming has had for more casual gamers, as both the next-gen Xbox and PlayStation are well on their way to becoming the same as entry-level gaming PCs.
The recent PlayStation price hike makes the $1,000 prediction for the PS6 reasonable
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PS5: From $550 to $650
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PS5 Digital Edition: From $500 to $600
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PS5 Pro: From $750 to $900
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PlayStation Portal: From $200 to $250
The current generation of PlayStation hardware will jump from $50 to $150 in price as early as April 2, 2026. While the standard and digital editions of the PlayStation 5 only saw an increase of $100, the price of the PS5 Pro will increase by $150, bringing the new MSRP to $900. It's not hard to imagine another $100 jump for the PS6 when it launches, given that the next-gen console is now expected to be released closer to 2028 or 2029.
The ongoing RAM crisis may be partly to blame for this across-the-board price increase and console release delays, which stem from the need for AI data centers to use large amounts of RAM and have caused many consumer RAM manufacturers to stop sales altogether. This practice has already affected PC gamers in the short term, but it seems to be setting the stage for long-term effects on the console gaming market as well. If the PlayStation 6 does indeed set its price floor at $1,000, then in the long run it may be worth picking up the PS5 right now, as the console's lifespan could be dramatically extended, as cross-generational releases only happen during the PS6's lifetime to account for the limited fan adoption put off by the high price.
