Uncertainty is growing around the future of gaming hardware, as memory prices continue to rise, which may prompt Sony and Valve to reconsider their PS6 and Steam Machine launch plans. According to a Reuters report, analysts warned of the possibility of postponing the launch or raising prices until costs stabilize.
The main reason is due to an expected historical shortage of memory, as a result of the tendency of major companies such as Micron to meet the rising demand from the artificial intelligence sector at the expense of the consumer market. In parallel, laptop and off-the-shelf computer companies have begun raising their prices, with expectations that the costs of DRAM and storage units will continue to rise for several years.
Although Valve may secure a stock of LPDDR5 memory in preparation for the launch of the Steam Machine in early 2026, industry sources indicate that the company may be forced to pass on the additional costs to consumers or postpone the launch. As for the PS6, which is likely to arrive in 2027 or 2028, it faces a direct threat from rising GDDR7 memory prices, which may affect the price of the final device.
At the same time, demand for gaming devices is declining, as Circana data showed that hardware sales in the United States fell by 27% during November 2025 compared to the previous year. With tariffs and economic pressures, the PS5 and Xbox Series
According to eMarketer analyst Jacob Bourne, companies may resort to postponing new releases in response to slowing sales and rising costs. While the idea of launching the Steam Machine in a basic version without memory or storage has been floated to reduce the price, this option seems to be off the table for Sony with the PS6.
