Publisher expects PS6 release date in 2028 or 2029, with high memory prices to blame

The Embracer Group owns numerous studios, including Crystal Dynamics and THQ Nordic. In the company’s latest annual report, it expects a boost from upcoming titles like Metro 2039 and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. However, high memory prices threaten to curtail console sales and delay the PS6 release date.

As the report highlights, console game sales increased by 3% in 2025 compared to the previous year. The publishing group anticipates the GTA 6 debut to help drive even larger gains in 2026. Yet, tariffs and the cost of components like DRAM complicate that outlook. When addressing the launch of future gaming systems, it explains:

In fact, some analysts believe that Sony is now considering pushing back the debut of its next PlayStation console from 2027 to 2028 or even 2029.

It’s unlikely that the Embracer Group has received an update from Sony. Instead, it’s referring to earlier reports about a potential PS6 release date delay. A February 2026 Bloomberg article used similar wording, quoting sources as “people familiar with the company’s thinking.”

Skyrocketing storage and memory prices have already impacted current-generation hardware. Sony and Nintendo recently raised the MSRPs of the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Switch 2 in response to the AI-driven shortage. The forecast looks bleak for short-term relief, with component costs likely to remain elevated through 2027 and possibly into 2028.

Are console sales already struggling?

In its most recent fiscal report, Sony acknowledged that PS5 adoption had fallen off in Q4 2025. The company also admitted that demand from AI data centers could disrupt its PS6 plans. There has been evidence that the higher cost of the systems is throttling console sales. With the price hike in effect, the first signs of a dramatic drop-off in countries like the UK have emerged.

If the PS6 specs offer a leap in performance, it may demand a frighteningly high investment. Still, leaker KeplerL2 has speculated that the manufacturer could reduce its rumored GDDR7 VRAM capacity from 30GB to 24GB. New file compression methods also aim to eliminate the need for a larger SSD.

Even with these options, Sony may, as the Embracer Group suggests, choose to extend the current generation. Hopefully, by later in 2028 or 2029, storage and memory will finally become more accessible.