Table of Contents
In light of ongoing trade tensions, computer hardware prices have been steadily increasing, impacting gaming systems like the PlayStation 5. Recently, the PlayStation 5 price was raised globally once again. Speculation suggests that the PlayStation 6 may debut with a high price tag. However, an analysis by Moore’s Law is Dead indicates that the system’s price could reach close to $1000 if tariffs persist and trade tensions continue past 2027.
The PlayStation 6 Bill of Materials
In a recent YouTube video, Moore’s Law is Dead’s Tom, a former engineering account manager, provided a detailed breakdown of the bill of materials for the current PlayStation 5 slim model with a disc drive, the upcoming PlayStation 6 home console, a handheld device, and a potential PlayStation 6 “S” variant sharing the same APU as the handheld. The estimated bill of materials totals $743.00, in line with a previous estimate by well-known leaker Kepler_L2.
| Component | 26′ PS5 Disc | “PS6S” Canis | PS6 Handheld | PS6 Orion |
| APU Die | $81.53 | $46.08 | $46.08 | $110.50 |
| Board | $36.00 | $16.00 | $24.00 | $48.00 |
| Cooling | $16.00 | $7.80 | $7.80 | $18.00 |
| Screen | – | – | $65.51 | – |
| Battery | – | – | $19.80 | – |
| SSD (Launch) | $112.50 | $142.50 | $142.50 | $142.50 |
| RAM Cost | $112.00 | $108.00 | $108.00 | $300.00 |
| Total BOM | $507.03 | $404.38 | $493.69 | $743.00 |
| MSRP Est. | $499.00 | $399.00 | $499.00 | $749.00 |
| MSRP + 30% Tariff | $649.00 | $529.00 | $649.00 | $949.00 |
Tariffs And Economic Turmoil Would Be To Blame For a $1000 PlayStation 6
While overall, PlayStation 6 components are slightly pricier than PlayStation 5 components, the costly RAM stands out as a major price driver. The estimated price for the next-generation console is $749.00, just $100 more than the current PlayStation 5 Slim model. Tom emphasized, “The longer people think the PS6 is $1,000, the more they’re going to claw their eyes out when they see it’s not because it’s not. It’s not going to be $1,000. It’s not.”
If tariffs inflate the final price by 30%, the $949.00 price tag could deter many buyers. This high price could also materialize if DRAM prices remain high through 2028 and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed throughout 2027.
Should circumstances change, Tom predicts the price could fall within the $600 to $800 range, still high but more accessible than a $1000 price point. Sony might also consider boosting RAM in both the home system and handheld to 40 GB and 36 GB respectively if DRAM prices drop and tariffs are lifted before early 2027.
Sony Won’t Delay The PlayStation 6 To Wait For Better Conditions
Despite speculation, Sony is unlikely to postpone the PlayStation 6 for improved economic conditions, as the costs of delay outweigh the benefits. AMD’s involvement indicates that the system’s release timeline is set, with no significant delays expected beyond late 2027 or early 2028.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack.
After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi “Suda51” Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA’s president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3.
When he’s not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.
Could you please rephrase the following?