(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
If you hoped the PS6 would cost less than $1,000, I have some potentially bad news for you. According to a new leak, the PS6 currently costs $960 in materials to manufacture. Unless Sony is willing to sell the yet-to-be-announced next-generation consoles, the PS6 could cost about as much as the equally pricey Steam Machine.The leak in question comes from Kepler_K2 (via Insider Gamer), who has a decent track record of hardware leaks. Kepler claims that the BoM (bill of materials) for the PS6 has jumped up by $200 since March of this year. Where the console cost $760 to manufacture, it will now cost $960. The PS5 Pro saw a similar price hike, rising from $699 to $899 after two price increases.Unfortunately, the PS6 could cost even more to manufacture. As Wccftech reports, an X user named Jukan posted a report from the banking firm Jefferies that claims to have spoken with a tech analyst about the RAM crisis. The expert predicts that RAM and SSD will see a 40% to 50% hike in Q3 2026 and another 30% to 40% hike in the final quarter of this year. If this happens, then the PS6’s cost will undoubtedly shoot beyond the $1,000 range.Sony and other console manufacturers have typically sold systems at a loss to recoup their costs through software sales. VGC reports that during a Q&A session with Sony’s Game & Network Services division, one attendee asked if Sony would subsidize the cost of its next-gen hardware. Sony said the company doesn’t plan to sell hardware “at significant losses” but is “monitoring the market.”Given all of these factors, it’s unrealistic to assume the PS6 will be south of $1,000 if things continue on their current trajectory. Indeed, if prices continue to skyrocket, a $1,000 asking price might be the best-case scenario. If that’s the case, then many folks will be priced out of next-gen consoles.
