Game Consoles Will Likely Get Even More Expensive… Again

RAM Crisis Threatens Console Prices and Delays Next-Gen Hardware

The global shortage of RAM and SSD storage is sending shockwaves through the gaming industry, threatening to drive up the cost of current consoles while pushing back the release dates of next-generation hardware. With AI data centers gobbling up memory supplies at an unprecedented rate, even tech giants are struggling to source components, leaving console manufacturers in a precarious position.

Nintendo recently confirmed it’s “contemplating” a price hike for its $450 Switch 2, less than a year after launching the handheld console. The Japanese gaming giant has already felt the pinch, with its share price taking hits despite positive Switch 2 sales numbers throughout 2025. The situation has become so dire that Nintendo was forced to spike the cost of the original Switch and Switch OLED in 2025 due to Trump’s tariffs, choosing instead to hike prices on peripherals while keeping the Switch 2 price steady.

Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine is also caught in the RAM shortage maelstrom. The company has delayed the PC/console hybrid and admitted it had to “revisit” its release date and price point. Valve has even slapped its Steam Deck OLED listings with an “out of stock” sticker, with a recent note on the store page warning that “Steam Deck OLED may be out of stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages.”

The RAM crisis is forcing console manufacturers to rethink their strategies. Before the shortage worsened, Valve had hinted its console could cost close to a PC of similar specs, potentially reaching $800. Nintendo, being more price-conscious than Sony or Microsoft, faces an even greater challenge. The company built its brand on lower-end hardware that can outshine the competition thanks to exclusive first-party games from beloved franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon.

Current-gen consoles may have more life left than gamers realize. Bloomberg reports that Sony could push the long-rumored PlayStation 6 launch all the way to 2028 and 2029. This delay might not be as disappointing as it sounds, as the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X, despite launching in 2020, still have more to give thanks to additional software performance enhancements.

The Switch 2 is proving itself graphically capable despite its lower-end GPU specs and minimal power draw, mostly thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS (deep learning super sampling) upscaling. Rumors suggest Sony could launch a PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) update that could drastically enhance performance, especially on PS5 Pro units.

Sony is keeping the PS5 relevant with new accessories, including a monitor, fight stick, and potentially even an enhanced remote/game streaming player. The Switch 2 has also expanded its accessory lineup, with new items like the Virtual Boy recreation available to start out 2026.

As gamers face potential price hikes and delayed hardware releases, the best option may be to stick with current systems. The hope is that when the AI bubble eventually pops, it won’t take the world economy with it, allowing the gaming industry to recover and return to normal production cycles.

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The RAM shortage is real, and it’s hitting gamers where it hurts – their wallets and their gaming libraries. With console prices potentially skyrocketing and next-gen hardware delayed indefinitely, gamers might need to hold onto their current systems a bit longer. But hey, at least we’ve got DLSS and PSSR to keep our current games looking fresh while we wait for the storm to pass!,