Sony ends PS5 discounts as memory chip crisis pushes PS6 to 2028–2029
Sony has officially ruled out future discounts on the PlayStation 5, citing soaring memory component costs in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The console already got more expensive — prices rose globally on April 2, 2026, following a $50 US-only hike in August 2025. Now Sony says those elevated prices are here to stay.
The memory problem
The culprit is a global shortage of DRAM and NAND flash memory. AI data centers are consuming memory chips at a pace that has overwhelmed supply: DRAM prices climbed 172% through 2025, while NAND prices surged 246% over the same period, per Wikipedia's memory shortage tracker. Sony isn't alone — Dell and Lenovo have raised PC prices 15–20% for the same reason, and analysts expect the shortage to persist through at least 2027.
For Sony, this rules out the traditional console playbook of gradual price cuts to expand the user base mid-cycle. The Sony SEC filing ties PS5 revenue directly to memory procurement costs, making discounts a financial non-starter for now.
Sales pressure
The timing is awkward. Push Square's FY2025 results coverage shows PS5 shipments fell 13% year-on-year to 16 million units in FY2025, with Q4 2025 alone down roughly 50% compared to the same quarter a year earlier. Sony is betting that a strong 2026 game pipeline — GTA VI and Marvel's Wolverine among the headliners — will sustain demand at full price. That's a harder sell when consumers are already absorbing a price increase of $100 or more versus launch.
PS6 pushed back
The memory crisis has also derailed the PlayStation 6 timeline. Multiple analyst reports — including those cited by Wccftech's PS6 delay analysis — now point to a 2028–2029 release window rather than the previously expected 2027. High-bandwidth memory, essential for next-gen console performance, remains in short supply as chipmakers prioritize AI customers. Sony has not officially confirmed a new date, but the consensus across six or more independent reports is consistent. When the PS6 does arrive, analysts expect a launch price north of $500 — potentially significantly higher.
For anyone holding out for a PS5 deal, that window has closed. The console will be sold at current retail prices for the foreseeable future.