Please note that this post is tagged as a rumor .
Rising RAM costs could push back next-gen console launches
A new Insider Gaming report claims that recent RAM price increases tied to AI demand are making console makers rethink next-generation launch timing and pricing . The media outlet says internal discussions are already happening around supply and bill-of-materials pressure.
Insider Gaming says it first mentioned the rumor on its weekly show on December 19, 2025, and describes the issue as both availability and cost at mass-production scale. It also claims RAM pricing has jumped by “several hundred percent” in recent months, which could make it harder to hit a mainstream launch price. The report adds that current-generation hardware could see more price moves in 2026 if memory costs stay elevated.
From what we understand, the situation has led console manufacturers to debate whether the next generation of consoles should be delayed from their intended 2027-2028 release window, with the hope that RAM manufacturers will be able to build out their infrastructure to produce more RAM, thereby allowing prices to drop.
— Insider Gaming
The same report says manufacturers are debating whether to slip next-gen hardware from an expected 2027 to 2028 window, betting that memory supply expands and pricing cools later on.
Kepler_L2, a known hardware leaker, also weighed in on X, arguing that platform economics are changing and that higher console pricing is a real possibility. In one post, the leaker suggested we could see consoles priced above $1,000. Mind you, that was before RAMpocalypse.
Microsoft probably will. Sony is more likely to delay the PS6
— Kepler (@Kepler_L2) December 29, 2025
For now, none of this is confirmed by Sony or Microsoft, and Insider Gaming is presenting it as a developing situation rather than a locked decision. If RAM pricing keeps climbing through 2026, that pressure could show up first as retail price increases for existing consoles, followed by a longer runway for next-gen launches.
Are graphics cards also at risk?
At this point, I would be more worried about next-gen GPUs. Graphics cards seem less safe from market fluctuations and demand than other hardware. The last few years have shown that anything from cryptocurrency to AI demand to RAM pricing can trigger market shifts. What is next, a shortage of fans?
So far, nothing official suggests that AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA will launch a new gaming GPU architecture in 2026, so hopefully 2027 will look different. Positive market changes for a change, please?
Source: Insider Gaming
