PS6 Price Could Top $1,000 as AI Data Centers Drive Up Component Costs

Sony's upcoming PlayStation 6 console is projected to cost over $1,000 due to soaring component prices driven by AI data center demand, threatening its affordability for mainstream consumers. Hardware leaker KeplerL2 reports the PS6's bill of materials has risen from roughly $760 in March to about $960 by July, with memory costs alone now exceeding $680. This price surge eliminates hopes of a subsidized $699.99 launch price. The high costs may force an extended cross-gen period with the PS5, delaying PS6-exclusive games for years. Sony faces difficulty justifying the new console's value amid diminishing graphical returns, though it will be twice as powerful as its predecessor.