75%
Probable
The PlayStation 6 (which may not trail much behind the Xbox Project Helix in terms of performance, and could have a significant upgrade problem that may hold games back for long) will reportedly stick to its 2027/early 2028 launch window despite rising component costs, as the financial penalty for delaying TSMC 3nm production far outweighs the current "RAMmageddon" price hikes. Despite recent rumors suggesting a push to 2029, insider Moore’s Law Is Dead argues that Sony’s production contracts with TSMC and the massive development costs already sunk into the system's Orion APU would make a significant delay extremely problematic.
According to the report shared in a new YouTube video, Sony has reportedly already secured its 3nm manufacturing allotment from TSMC for Q2 2027. Pulling out now would be a massive issue for the Japanese company, as it wouldn't just result in a short delay but would also make it lose its priority status, potentially bumping it behind other TSMC customers for years.
“Paying extra for RAM is not worth delaying something,” Moore's Law is Dead said in the video, highlighting that Sony has spent tens of millions over several years designing this specific APU. Paying more for GDDR7 memory simply wouldn't be comparable to the cost of stalling a multi-billion dollar production cycle.
Launching the PlayStation 6 Amidst Price Increases Would Be Nothing New for Sony
While the current RAM situation is indeed dire, it isn't the first time prices have skyrocketed. When the PlayStation 5 launched, GDDR6 prices increased considerably, yet Sony did not delay the system.
In addition, the PS5 launched in the middle of a global pandemic, and Sony went out of its way to pay for expensive air shipping to have as many systems as possible available for purchase. While availability remained low due to component shortages, the company did not change its plans, so it seems unlikely that a company that navigated such troubled waters in 2020 wouldn't do the same seven years later.
A Small PlayStation 6 Delay is Still Possible
While a significant delay may cause more trouble for Sony than simply paying more for RAM, the PlayStation 6 could still see a minor shift from a late 2027 release window. According to the leak, an early 2028 launch is still possible without major consequences, as manufacturing could still begin in Q2 2027, allowing Sony to build inventory while waiting for the best possible deal on RAM before final assembly.
A final decision on the PlayStation 6 launch window won't be made this year, however, but only in early 2027 right ahead of the beginning of production.
Still, with new leaks heavily suggesting Sony is gearing up for an imminent generational transition, the PlayStation 6 is likely not many years away, also considering how AMD wouldn't waste resources on validating a system that could be delayed.
While the PlayStation 6 may not be massively delayed and launch in the same timeframe as the more powerful Xbox Project Helix, there's no denying that the current RAM high prices are impacting gaming system's launches. Valve's Steam Machine, poised to be Sony's biggest competitor, has yet to receive a firm launch date, though that delay is expected to be minor.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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