Sony is considering pushing back the launch of its next-generation PlayStation console to 2028 or even 2029, according to a Bloomberg report published this week. The same report notes Nintendo is contemplating a price increase for the Switch 2 in 2026.
Both moves stem from rising costs and tightening supply for memory components. AI hardware demand has pulled massive amounts of manufacturing capacity and component supply toward data centers and high-end computing. That means less availability and higher prices for the memory chips and storage that consoles need to hit affordable price points.
A 2028 or 2029 launch window would mark an unusually long generation for PlayStation. The PS4 launched in 2013 and the PS5 in 2020, making for a seven-year gap. Pushing the next console to 2028 would give the PS5 eight years as the flagship platform.
Sony already released the PS5 Pro as a premium mid-generation option. If the next full generation gets delayed, that Pro model becomes even more important for keeping the platform fresh. The company would likely lean harder on software sales and services revenue while waiting for component costs to stabilize.
For Nintendo, a price increase would be notable. The company typically holds hardware prices steady and uses bundles or special editions to adjust perceived value. Raising the Switch 2 price directly would signal genuine cost pressure rather than standard business strategy.
The Bloomberg report frames both scenarios as considerations rather than final decisions. Sony and Nintendo are evaluating their options as they watch memory and chip markets respond to AI demand. Neither company has made official announcements about timing or pricing changes.
Consoles sell at mass-market scale with tight profit margins. Manufacturers aim to keep component costs low enough to avoid losing money on each unit sold. When memory prices spike, console makers face tough choices between absorbing losses, raising prices, cutting features, or delaying launches entirely.
