Although we essentially have to pay through the nose for 32 GB of RAM, it seems that Sony doesn’t care that costs have skyrocketed.

Despite rising component prices, the PlayStation 6 is reportedly sticking to its early 2027/2028 launch date, as the financial penalty for delaying TSMC‘s 3nm production far outweighs the current RAMmageddon price increases. Despite recent rumors pointing to a delay until 2029, Moore’s Law Is Dead claims that a significant delay would be problematic due to Sony‘s manufacturing contracts with TSMC and the substantial development costs already invested in the Orion APU system. Sony has reportedly secured its 3nm manufacturing quota from TSMC for the second quarter of 2027. A delay would not only result in a short postponement but also cause Sony to lose its priority status, setting it years behind TSMC‘s other customers.

According to the insider, the extra cost of RAM is not worth the delay, pointing out that Sony has spent tens of millions over several years designing this special APU. The additional cost of GDDR7 memory would be insignificant compared to the cost of halting a multibillion-dollar production cycle. While the current RAM situation is dire, this isn’t the first time prices have skyrocketed. When the PlayStation 5 was released, the price of GDDR6 memory rose significantly, yet Sony did not postpone the console’s release. Furthermore, the PlayStation 5 was released amid a pandemic, and Sony did everything possible to bring as many systems as possible to market using expensive air freight. Although availability remained low due to component shortages, the company did not change its plans. Therefore, it is unlikely that Sony would do anything differently seven years later, even in the face of a similar situation.

A significant delay could cause more problems for Sony than simply paying more for RAM. However, the PlayStation 6 may still deviate slightly from its late 2027 release date. According to the leak, an early 2028 launch is possible without significant consequences because production could begin in the second quarter of 2027. This would allow Sony to build up inventory while waiting for optimal RAM prices before final assembly. However, the final decision on the release date of the PlayStation 6 will not be made until early 2027, just before production begins.

While the PlayStation 6 may not face significant delays and will launch alongside the more powerful Xbox Project Helix, the current high RAM prices are undeniably affecting the consoles’ launch. Valve‘s Steam Machine has not yet received an exact release date, though the delay is expected to be minor.

Source: WCCFTech