Sony considers PS6 delay to 2029 as AI chip shortage forces gaming industry to rethink strategy

Sony faces unprecedented PlayStation 6 launch delay

Sony is weighing a significant PS6 delay that could push the PlayStation 6 launch to 2028 or even 2029, according to Bloomberg reports 1

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. The potential postponement stems from an AI chip shortage that has created unprecedented pressure on global memory chip supplies, forcing Sony and other gaming companies into rethinking hardware strategies for their next-generation platforms.

If the PlayStation 6 does not arrive until 2029, it would mark nearly a decade since the PS5's November 2020 debut—the longest gap between hardware generations in Sony's history 1

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. Bloomberg's sources describe the potential postponement as a major upset to a carefully orchestrated strategy to sustain user engagement between hardware generations.

AI-driven chip crisis reshapes semiconductor priorities

The global shortage of memory chips has emerged from surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, with the three major memory manufacturers—Samsung, SK Hynex, and Micron—prioritizing high-margin AI chips over consumer electronics 1

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. Micron's business chief Sumit Sadana told CNBC in January that the company is completely sold out for 2026, with industry forecasts indicating data centers will consume 70 percent of global memory chip production this year.

Capital expenditures on AI infrastructure by tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft are projected to reach $650 billion in 2026, squeezing memory supply for gaming consoles 1

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. The shortage has already prompted warnings from executives at Apple and Tesla about its impact on profits, highlighting how the AI-driven chip crisis extends beyond gaming into broader consumer electronics markets.

Nintendo and broader gaming industry feel the pressure

Nintendo is also navigating the turbulent chip market. The company launched the Switch 2 at $449 in June 2025 but is now contemplating raising the price in 2026 as RAM costs have increased 41 percent compared to initial projections 1

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. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged the challenge, stating that while there is no immediate impact on earnings, "the volatile memory market is something we must monitor closely."

Analyst firm Niko Partners predicts Nintendo may discontinue the $449 standalone option and offer only a $499 or higher bundle SKU 1

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. These developments signal that longer console cycles and driving up chip costs are reshaping expectations across the gaming industry.

Sony's profitability strategy and AMD partnership

Sony wants to make the PS6 as profitable as possible, preferably at launch 2

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. The company has grown accustomed to making a profit from its PlayStation hardware, and the PlayStation 6 launch delay would allow Sony to navigate uncertain market conditions carefully, similar to how it handled the PS5's launch during COVID-19.

Sony is currently co-developing the PlayStation 6's chip technology with AMD as part of the ambitious Project Amethyst initiative 2

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. The PS6 will utilize advanced AI technologies integrated directly into the chip, including developments like Neural Arrays, Radiance Cores, and Universal Compression for enhanced performance. Neither Sony nor Nintendo responded to Bloomberg's requests for comment on the reported delays 1

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