The Next-Gen Xbox and PlayStation Consoles Could Cost $1,000 USD
Analysts predict that the rising costs of components may turn console gaming into a luxury expenditure.
Summary
- Industry analysts predict that the upcoming PlayStation 6 and next-generation Xbox could see a massive price increase
- Supply chain issues and the rising costs of AI production hardware are reportedly driving up manufacturing expenses
- Rumors suggest that $1,000 USD price tags may soon become the new standard for flagship gaming consoles
The next generation of the Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox consoles could require a massive financial investment from players. Industry analysts predict that both rumored flagship gaming systems could hit the $1,000 USD mark as manufacturing costs continue to surge.
Current projections suggest that base prices for the upcoming hardware cycle are rumored to start at least 50% higher than the previous generation. “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,” Joost van Druenen, SuperData co-founder and games industry analyst, told GamesRadar.
“I think $999 USD at least for one variant of the PS6 is not impossible,” Dr. Serkan Toto of Japanese consultancy firm Kantan Games shared. van Druenen added, “We’re quickly moving towards a world in which a $1,000 USD console will be the norm, and console gaming will become a luxury expenditure.”
Analysts further point toward a perfect storm of economic factors, including a reported 80 to 90% surge in the cost of DRAM and NAND memory chips since early 2026. Furthermore, data centers rapidly acquiring hardware for AI production and ongoing distribution issues have severely impacted component availability.
While no official announcement from Sony and Microsoft have been made so far, Sony did confirm that the base PlayStation 5 model will increase by $100 USD to become $649.99 USD, while the PS5 Pro will increase by $150 USD to become $899.99 USD.
