One researcher anticipates a cloud gaming boom due to skyrocketing console costs. Michael Pachter predicts that a high PS6 price will drive buyers to the more affordable streaming solution. Even so, latency and a limited catalog of titles may keep some gamers loyal to PlayStation hardware.
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter doesn’t see a bright future for consoles. On a new podcast, he agrees that the memory shortage could push the PS6 price to $1000. With many buyers unable to afford the PlayStation system, cloud gaming may emerge as a more popular option.
Why cloud gaming may become more appealing
Pachter views the Supreme Court ruling against U.S. tariffs as a positive development. Yet, storage and memory prices will remain high for the foreseeable future. The researcher expects that suppliers like SK Hynix and Samsung will be able to meet demand during the AI boom. However, Sony will need to pay more to secure the parts, passing the burden onto gamers.
For the past 10 years, the analyst has forecasted a shrinking console market. Even before the latest PS5 price increase, there have been signs of slowing sales. Project Helix and the Steam Machine are also unlikely to launch with MSRPs comparable to previous-gen systems. Pachter says that gamers could turn to cloud streaming as a budget-friendly choice:
I think that console prices are going to keep going up as long as demand for the components goes up for other reasons. So AI, um, I think that the solution to that is get rid of consoles and go to streaming games on TVs. Somebody's going to figure out a way to play console games without a console, then we don't care.
With PS Portal and PlayStation Plus Premium, Sony already offers streaming features. Meanwhile, Microsoft has invested in improving Xbox Cloud Gaming. Regardless, critics don’t consider it a replacement for a PC, Xbox, or PlayStation. Latency can still make the experience frustrating, and the selection of titles keeps changing.
Nvidia GeForce Now is perhaps the closest a streaming service has come to replicating local gaming. Some plans feature high-framerate 4K graphics on servers with ample bandwidth. It’s also available on devices that are far cheaper than the projected Project Helix, Steam Machine, or PS6 price. Unfortunately, subscriptions for the highest tiers are costly, and there are monthly hourly caps.
Pachter believes the tariff news makes a PS6 release date in 2027 more realistic. Still, it’s questionable whether cloud gaming will have advanced enough to become an ideal alternative.
Adam Corsetti - Tech Writer - 1255 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025
I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I'm anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck.
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