Sony Might Lower The PlayStation 6's Price By Making It Less Powerful
Leaks suggest Sony could trim PS6 memory specs to offset rising component costs and avoid pushing the console into the high three figures.
- Reports suggest Sony may equip the upcoming PlayStation 6 with 24GB VRAM and a 128-bit memory bus to control costs, departing from earlier expectations of 30GB capacity.
- AMD leaker KeplerL2 claims this adjustment would yield a $60 BOM reduction by 'disabling one memory controller' to harvest manufacturing defects and streamline production requirements.
- For comparison, the current PlayStation 5 uses a 256-bit memory bus with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM; the PS6 design reduces potential bandwidth to prioritize affordability.
- Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki told investors last week that the company has not finalized a launch date or price, warning that memory costs could push PS6 prices over $1,000.
- Totoki indicated Sony may explore new business models, potentially adopting smartphone-style monthly repayment plans bundled with PlayStation Plus subscriptions to manage consumer costs.
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12 Articles
Sony is facing a PS6 crisis, but it has one radical option
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PS6 May Use 24GB RAM Instead of 30GB to Keep Price Near $499–$599
Sony is reportedly considering 24GB of GDDR7 memory for the PlayStation 6 as a way to control production costs and avoid extreme launch pricing. Earlier rumors suggested the PS6 could include 30GB or more, but rising DRAM prices tied to AI demand may have forced Sony to scale back plans. Even with the reduced target, 24GB would still be a major upgrade over the PS5’s 16GB of GDDR6 memory. Reports claim the configuration could save Sony around $…
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PlayStation 5 sales are expected to slow sharply in 2025, with the biggest declines in the last quarter. The release of the video game blockbuster GTA VI next November could help, but the difficulty of sourcing RAM remains a threat. Meanwhile, Sony is abandoning its four-wheeled projects with Honda (in crisis) and focusing on entertainment.
According to leaks, Sony may keep the price of the PlayStation 6 low by saving on memory.
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