Sony may delay its next PlayStation console to 2028 or 2029 amid memory shortages

Sony is reportedly looking at pushing back its next PlayStation console, with a new report claiming the company may not launch new hardware until 2028 or even 2029. The reason, according to the report, is the ongoing memory chip crunch that’s making it harder for consumer electronics makers to lock in supply.

The claim comes from a Bloomberg report, which cites people familiar with Sony’s thinking. Bloomberg says a delay would disrupt Sony’s plans for keeping players engaged between hardware generations, though Sony hasn’t commented publicly.

The same report says Nintendo is also feeling the pressure. Bloomberg claims Nintendo is considering a price increase later this year, tied to higher memory costs and demand, but Nintendo didn’t respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment either.

What’s driving this, reportedly, is AI. Data centers from companies like Alphabet and OpenAI are buying up huge amounts of memory production, leaving less capacity for things like consoles and PCs. Industry execs are also warning investors that this isn’t a quick supply blip.

Meanwhile, Sony’s recent financials suggest the current PlayStation generation is already in its slower hardware phase. In its latest report, Sony said it shipped 8 million consoles over the holiday period, down from 9.5 million by the end of Q3 in December 2024. Sony also pointed out that while hardware sales have dipped, PlayStation Store software revenue hit a record high for the quarter.