How much could one PlayStation cost, Michael? One grand?
Well, we’re actually close to reaching 1000 dollars for the next generation PlayStation, according to industry researcher Joost van Dreunen, as quoted by Games Radar. It appears that console gaming will be shifting to a more luxury experience in the future, and the industry expert followed up with an explanation.
According to van Dreunen, “they really don’t want to raise prices on their hardware, because that part is usually a heavily subsidized part of the equation, and the sale of games is the gravity point of their revenue model. I predict that the next generation of console hardware will start at a 50% higher price point than the current one did.”
We’re already not far off from the $1000 mark as is, with the PS5 Pro going to hit $899 next week following a new price hike, which already feels astronomical even for a Pro model. Historically, gaming hardware has trended toward getting cheaper and more accessible with time, introducing more gamers into the ecosystem, but it seems like those days are numbered. The digital PlayStation 5 edition will now be $200 more expensive than it was when it launched back in 2020.
Gaming is Being Paywalled
Hardware prices have skyrocketed recently as component availability dwindles. The industry struggled with production chain disruptions in the wake of the pandemic, and now consumer-grade products are competing with major AI data centers for chips that you cannot just will into existence in the short run. The hostile supply environment has affected both PC and console gamers alike.
While there have been some improvements in the RAM department as of yesterday, it’s not entirely clear how long this lull will last. The potential saviour for consumer hardware is the new Google TurboQuant compression algorithm, which reduces the memory needs for certain AI workflows, lowering data center demand and potentially leaving some DDR5 sticks for the rest of us plebeians.
The digital PlayStation 5 edition will now be $200 more expensive than it was when it launched back in 2020.
Not everyone is as optimistic, however. According to investment management company Quilter Cheviot, Google TurboQuant “does not alter the industry’s long-term demand picture”, meaning that prices will go back to scary highs in short order. Still, even if that’s the case, it’s nice to have a small breather for those who want to get a new Steam Deck or add some RAM to the old gaming PC.
In Sony’s defence, the company has been outspoken about wanting to build a more cost-effective console for the PlayStation 6, but the disastrous economic environment that has followed the PS5 like a shadow since the pandemic is putting plans at risk. Maybe by the time the PS6 comes out, we will have fewer global cataclysmic events, but no one is predicting global events using a console as the benchmark… so far, at least. Until Sony announces the PS6 and its price, my PS5 does not have permission to die.
