PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox might be late, and AI is to blame

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Gamers have been quietly circling 2027 on their mental calendars, expecting the next big console leap from Sony and Microsoft to arrive right on schedule. 

But according to a new report from Insider Gaming, the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox may be stuck in the loading screen a little longer than planned, and AI is the reason why.

At the heart of the delay is RAM. Not the kind you forget to close Chrome tabs on, but DRAM and other memory components that modern consoles absolutely need to function. 

This year, memory prices have spiked sharply as AI data centers and cloud giants outbid consumer hardware makers for limited production capacity, driving up demand. 

In other words, your future console is competing with chatbots and server racks for parts, and losing. That matters because consoles live and die by launch pricing. 

Both Sony and Microsoft traditionally sell new systems at razor-thin margins (or outright losses) early on, hoping to make money later through games and services. 

But if memory prices stay high, launching the PlayStation 6 or its Xbox counterpart on schedule could mean uncomfortably expensive hardware right out of the gate, something neither company is eager to explain to already price-weary consumers.

Originally, the industry expected a familiar seven-to-eight-year cycle, putting the next generation around 2027 or 2028. 

Now, that timeline may stretch as RAM suppliers slowly expand capacity, and prices hopefully cool off. 

Until then, both companies appear to be weighing whether it’s better to wait than to launch into a hostile cost environment.

A delay wouldn’t just affect console buyers. Game development timelines, performance targets, and even retail pricing strategies could shift as a result. 

It also means the current PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S era, which has already seen multiple price hikes, may stick around longer than expected.

For gamers, it’s a mixed bag. Yes, it delays the shiny new hardware leap everyone loves. 

But it also gives developers more time to fully exploit the current generation, which still has plenty of untapped potential and an enormous library of active games.

For now, the next console war isn’t being delayed by design disagreements or technological limits. It’s being stalled by memory chips that are just too busy powering AI.