Sony’s PS5 is now officially over five years old, entering the final part of its console lifespan. At the same point during the last generation, the PS5 was just two years away, so excitement is high for what Sony is working on next.
Rumors regarding the PS6 and a potential handheld have also been making the rounds for a while, giving consumers some idea of what to expect from future hardware. Amid the excitement, a financial analyst warns that the PS6 could cost at least $600.
Commenting on the ongoing memory shortages and pricing situation, Professor Rob Wilson from the University Campus of Football Business noted that rising prices pose a real threat to the next-generation of consoles.
Speaking to Action Network, he described that the current pressure could lead to a $150-200 price hike on each unit of hardware sold. This is problematic since pricing is already challenging to nail for consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, and manufacturers must strike the perfect balance.
“It could even increase costs somewhere between $150 and $200 per unit compared to current prices.” -Rob Wilson
Effectively, the analyst suggests future consoles like the PS6 could start as high as $600. He also noted that more expensive premium models could be introduced by companies in the future in an attempt to work around the ongoing crisis.
It is even said that measures like reduced discount periods could be implemented by manufacturers. Looking at the current market, this isn’t very hard to believe since consoles like the Xbox Series X are already priced over $600 at this point.
Also, Sony has already released the PS5 Pro at a major premium, bumping the console’s price up to $800 following recent price hikes. If the analyst’s predictions come to fruition, a $600 MSRP for the PS6 would be a very safe bet, and it would not be shocking to see a potential PS6 Pro cost as much as $1000.
