Sony is reportedly looking to push back the launch of PlayStation 6 in response to memory shortages caused by tech giants' continuing AI expansion drive, while Nintendo is said to be considering a price hike for Switch 2.

Memory shortages and soaring prices have made headlines in recent times, both issues arising as tech companies continue their push into AI. Substantial amounts of RAM are required to power AI platforms, so as the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta continue to throw money at AI data centres in order to stay competitive, the demand for RAM has increased dramatically.

Supply issues and spiralling costs could have a significant impact on consumer electronics, with Valve having already announced a delay for its Steam Machines as it grapples with memory and storage shortages. Similarly, Microsoft is reportedly looking to increase the price of its Xbox Series X/S yet again in response to global RAM shortages.

As to how Xbox's closest rivals might respond, Bloomberg - citing "people familiar with the company's thinking" - now reports Sony is considering shifting the release of PlayStation 6 to 2028 or 2029. While the company has never publicly discussed a launch window for its next-gen console, documents leaked in 2022 suggested it wouldn't release PS6 until at least 2027.

Since then, reports have surfaced claiming Sony is looking to begin manufacturing its next-gen console early next year for a 2027 release, but some analysts have more recently suggested a launch in 2028 or beyond is now likelier. Bloomberg writes that if Sony delays PS6 into 2028 or 2029 as a result of memory issues, it would be a "major upset to a carefully orchestrated strategy to sustain user engagement between hardware generations". Sony's current console, PS5, launched in 2020.

As for Nintendo, Bloomberg says a price hike for Switch 2 may be on the way. Citing "people familiar with [the company's] plans", it claims Nintendo is currently "contemplating" raising the price of its latest console - which has sold over 17m units since launching in 2025 - later this year. In January, Nintendo said RAM shortages would have no "immediate impact" on the price of Switch 2, but earlier this month, company president Shuntaro Furukawa warned things might change if the trend continues into the next fiscal year.

If you're curious to learn more about the issues surrounding RAM at present, and what they might mean for gaming, Eurogamer's Robert Purchese recently took a closer look at what one tech commentator has called a "perfect storm of unpreparedness, panic, and greed".