PlayStation 6 Release Date: Reader Warns Memory Shortage Could Delay PS6 Launch to 2028

Sony has yet to announce a release date for the PlayStation 6, but a reader writing in to Metro's Games Inbox believes ongoing memory shortages could prevent the next-generation console from launching in 2027. The reader argued that rising hardware costs could force Sony to delay the system until at least 2028.

The comments come amid growing uncertainty around Sony's plans for its next console. Sony President and CEO Hiroki Totoki has said the company has yet to decide when or at what price it will launch its next console, while warning that memory prices are expected to remain high during fiscal 2027 because of supply shortages.

While the PS6 had previously been expected by some industry observers to launch in 2027, the latest concerns suggest that Sony could ultimately wait longer. Importantly, however, the 2028 date in Metro's reader letter is speculation rather than an announcement from Sony.

Component Shortages Could Affect PS6 Plans

The Metro reader, writing under the name Focus Expert, said they do not expect to purchase the PS6 next year and argued that the current component crisis could make the console 'much too expensive'. They subsequently claimed there was 'no way' the system would not be delayed until at least 2028.

The concern is not entirely without precedent. Earlier reports suggested that Sony could push the PS6 from a potential 2027 launch to 2028 or even 2029 amid rising memory costs and other component pressures.

Embracer Group also noted in its 2025/26 annual report that higher RAM costs could cause delays to future consoles, adding that some analysts believe Sony could push the PS6 from 2027 to 2028 or even 2029.

Sony has previously described a six-to-seven-year platform cycle for the PS5.

What Is the Component Crisis?

The component crisis largely refers to a global shortage of memory chips, with surging demand from AI data centres putting additional pressure on supplies. Memory manufacturers have increasingly prioritised high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is used in AI infrastructure, while conventional DRAM supplies used in consumer electronics have also tightened.

The shortage has pushed memory prices higher, with manufacturers warning that supply conditions could remain tight into 2028. Samsung has also said major customers are seeking multi-year supply agreements to secure future memory supplies.

The situation matters for Sony because Hiroki Totoki has said the company expects memory prices to remain high during fiscal 2027 due to supply shortages. However, Sony has not said that the shortage will force a PS6 delay. Instead, the company has said it is still considering when and at what price to launch its next console.

PS6 2028 Launch Remains Unconfirmed

There is currently no official PS6 release date, meaning neither 2027 nor 2028 should be treated as confirmed.

However, other industry analysis has also pointed towards 2028. Ampere Analysis analyst Piers Harding-Rolls said Sony's decision to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028 indicates that the PS6 could launch no earlier than 2028. Harding-Rolls said Ampere's current expectation was for the console to launch towards the end of 2028.

For now, the component crisis remains one of several factors that could influence Sony's timetable. Until the company formally announces the PS6 and its launch plans, claims of a 2028 delay remain reports, analysis and reader speculation rather than an official confirmation.