PS6: Sony hasn't set a date or price, and explains why

Fabian Lainé August 19, 2026 at 2:30 PM

In brief

Sony still isn't setting a date or price for the PS6, and CEO Hiroki Totoki explains this by the surge in electronic component prices, driven up by demand for artificial intelligence. The PS5 should therefore remain the reference machine for much longer than expected.

The PlayStation 5 will turn six in November, and its successor still has neither a timeline nor a price tag. Hiroki Totoki, Sony's CEO, confirmed as much to the Wall Street Journal on August 17: no decision has been made on the launch of the PS6.

This isn't strategic stalling. Totoki points to the state of the components market, where demand from AI-dedicated data centers has sent memory prices soaring. "Given how important this issue is, we need to act. Otherwise, we won't be able to survive in this landscape," he says. Back in May, he was already explaining that neither the launch window nor the price had been settled, and that memory prices would remain very high through fiscal year 2027.

Why it matters

Sony has already passed part of the bill on to the current generation: the PS5 Pro jumped to $900 this year. Microsoft, for its part, has warned that the situation would get worse before it gets better. A console launched in this context would arrive either at a price that's hard to justify, or with trimmed-down specs.

For players, the practical consequence is twofold: the PS5 will remain the reference machine for longer than expected, and the analyses predicting a PS6 in 2027 are, for now, pure speculation. Sony, meanwhile, has a convenient reason to wait: GTA 6 comes out on November 19 on the current generation.

How do you feel about this forced wait for the PS6?

Frequently asked questions

When will the PS6 be released?

Sony hasn't set any date. Hiroki Totoki confirmed in August that neither the launch window nor the price has been decided. Rumors pointed to 2027, but for now that's pure speculation.

Why is Sony waiting so long before announcing it?

Memory and component prices are at an all-time high because of the AI race in data centers. Sony fears launching a console that's too expensive or with scaled-back specs if it comes out too early.

Is buying a PS5 still worth it?

Absolutely. The PS5 will remain the reference machine for much longer than expected, and GTA 6 is arriving in November. You've got years of content ahead of you.

What impact will this have on the PS6's price when it arrives?

If the component situation doesn't improve, the PS6 will either be very expensive or less powerful than hoped. Sony is waiting for prices to drop to avoid that trap.

Key takeaways

Memory prices are skyrocketing because of demand from AI data centers, and Sony is waiting for the situation to calm down before committing to the PS6.
The $900 PS5 Pro shows that Sony is already passing the bill on to the current generation.
No date or price announcement will come before 2027 at the earliest, contrary to the rumors that were circulating.
GTA 6 in November gives Sony the luxury of waiting without fear of prematurely aging the PS5.

Trending