While the new generation excitement has already begun in the game console market, the latest leaks that hit the technology world like a bombshell will spoil the fun of the players. According to information from reliable insiders in the industry, PlayStation 6 is preparing to be released with a much higher price tag than expected.

Increases in hardware costs on a global scale, and especially the major crisis in the semiconductor and RAM markets, directly increase production costs.

Finally, following the new generation Steam Machine breakthrough in which Valve announced the 512 GB base model at a price of $ 1,049, it is claimed that Sony will follow this high price trend and offer the PS6 model for sale at a price above the $ 1,000 threshold, even close to $ 1,200 with logistics and marketing costs.

Why Are Hardware Costs Rising So Fast?

While the gaming industry demands more advanced graphics and stronger artificial intelligence integrations every year, this puts a huge hardware burden on console manufacturers.

According to information shared by reliable industry analyst Kepler_L2, while the bare cost of the materials to be used in the production of PlayStation 6 was at the level of $ 760 per device last March, this number increased by $ 200 in just a few months, reaching $ 900.

The biggest factor behind this cost increase faced by companies is shown to be the deepening RAM crisis around the world.

The fact that artificial intelligence data centers and smart devices require high amounts of memory causes production capacities to shift to this area.

Sony also acknowledged in a recent statement that they are closely monitoring these fluctuations and the crisis environment in the memory market in order to determine the most accurate pricing and release date for PS6.

If this unstoppable rise in component prices continues, the release date of PlayStation 6, which is expected to be released in 2027 under normal circumstances, faces the danger of being postponed to a much later period.

Current Generation Consoles Also Received Their Shares from the Price Raise

The cost of cost increases is reflected not only on the next generation, but also on the current consoles currently on the market. Hardware manufacturers are forced to increase prices because they have difficulty subsidizing increasing module costs. When we look at the general situation in the sector, we see that game console prices have actually reached a historical peak. Sony has updated the prices of the current console family, increasing the base PS5 model to $649.99, the digital version to $599.99, and the most powerful version, the PS5 Pro model, to $899.99.

A similar breakthrough is coming from Microsoft. Xbox shows how tight the market is by clearly applying price increases ranging from 100 to 150 dollars, depending on the console types. In an environment where production costs are so high, it seems impossible for Sony to sell its next flagship console at old classic prices such as $ 500 or $ 600.

Steam Machine and PC Hardware Intensify Competition

While this price confusion is happening in the console world, Valve’s new generation Steam Machine model, which has been eagerly awaited for a long time and will be officially released on June 30, is another element that raises the price bar.

Valve offers the entry model with 512 GB of storage for pre-order at $1,049, and the top model with 2 TB of storage for $1,349.

Moreover, the controller is not included in these prices and players must pay an extra $100 for a Steam Controller.

Although Steam Machine does not have as aggressive hardware power as a PS5 Pro, it is already finding buyers on the black market for almost twice the official sales price, thanks to the wide library and long-term investment advantage offered by the computer ecosystem.

How Will Sony Convince Players?

When the cost analysis is made, in a scenario where the PS5 Pro model approaches the $ 900 price tag, it becomes an inevitable fact that the PS6, developed with a completely new architecture, will exceed the $ 1,000 mark.

When personnel, global logistics networks, customs duties and huge marketing budgets are added to the $900 pure module cost leaked by Kepler_L2, it seems very possible that the final shelf price of the PlayStation 6 to reach the consumer will be positioned between $1,100 and $1,200.

It is not yet known how the memory and cutting market will stabilize in the coming period, but it looks like players will have to make a big splash in order to own a console in the new generation.