PlayStation 6 pushed to 2028: 4 reasons the delay looks likely
Bloomberg reported in February that Sony is delaying its next-generation console because of memory chip pricing, and the market no longer expects the device before 2027.
Would you buy a new PlayStation in 2027? You may have to wait a little longer.
Bloomberg reported in February that Sony is weighing pushing its next-generation console to 2028, or even 2029. That breaks the seven-year cycle that has been the rule until now.
Prediction markets that track new console launch dates now give just a 25 percent probability that PS6 ships before 2027.
The PlayStation 5 has been on sale since November 2020. A seven-year cycle, repeated since the PS2 era, would point to a 2027 launch. Sony has held to that pattern in the past. This time, the conditions are unusual.
1. Memory chip prices are out of control
The main reason for the delay, according to Bloomberg, is uncertainty around memory chip prices.
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory, the main working memory used by the console and the GPU) has gone through several swings up and down across 2025 and 2026. That makes locking in a price that has to hold for seven years extremely risky.
A console is built so that Sony knows up front what each unit costs and how to set the retail price. The reason: in the first years, most consoles are sold at a loss.
When memory prices can move 30 percent in three months, planning a 500 or 600 dollar console price becomes almost impossible.
2. The game that anchors the generation is not out yet
GTA 6 ships on November 19, 2026. It is the biggest release of the generation and a guarantee that PS5 and Xbox Series consoles still have a strong sales argument for at least another year.
With GTA 6 in hand, Sony is not under pressure to launch a new console quickly. The current platform is still growing.
Industry logic says you launch a new console when the software catalog slows. The PS5 is at its peak, with GTA 6 still ahead. The game will only appear on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles in its first months.
3. Hardware codenamed Orion, with AMD Zen 6 and RDNA 5
Even with the delay, the design is not standing still. PS6, internally codenamed Orion, is being built around:
- A custom AMD Zen 6 CPU
- An RDNA 5 graphics core
Sony is also preparing a companion device codenamed Project Canis. That is likely a portable console in the spirit of the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck.
Pushing the launch date is not an admission that hardware is late. It is a strategic decision to wait until component prices become predictable.
4. Margin matters more than the calendar race
Over the past several quarters, Sony has focused on the gaming division’s profitability, not on sales volume.
Microsoft is losing share with Xbox and is not real competition. That removes Sony’s reason to hurry.
It is better to wait two years and launch a console that turns a profit from day one. The alternative, launching in 2027 with a 100-dollar loss per unit because of memory pricing, is not on the table.
What this means for gamers in Serbia
PS5 and PS5 Pro are the main options today. The PS5 Pro launched in November 2024 and sells in Serbia for around 950 euros (about 111,500 dinars) for the standard version.
If you are considering buying now, the PS5 Pro will remain a relevant console for another three or four years. That is more than a reasonable horizon.
Anyone waiting for the PS6 for savings or stronger hardware will need patience. Realistic expectations:
- First public glimpse of the console: 2027
- Launch: late 2028 or even 2029
Would you wait another three years for a new console?
It depends on what you are playing right now.
For a new gamer who does not own a PS5, there is no reason to wait. For someone on a PS4 or an older console, the PS5 Pro is the best move. For someone who already has a PS5, waiting makes sense.
How are you planning to play over the next three years, on your current console or with an upgrade in mind?
