Sony, the maker of the PlayStation gaming console, is now considering pushing back the debut of its next gaming console to 2028 or even 2029, according to a recent Bloomberg report on the growing memory chip crisis.
Sony’s consideration of this delay for its flagship and top-selling product indicates the chaos unfolding in the memory space, particularly as the cost of one type of DRAM soared 75% from December to January. Nintendo, Sony’s rival, is also contemplating raising the price of its device in 2026, according to Bloomberg sources.
Impact on the Smartphone Industry
The memory crisis is hitting smartphone makers hard, as per numbers shared by Jiemian, a Chinese media outlet. Chinese manufacturers including Xiaomi, OPPO, and Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Co. (TECNO, Infinix, Itel, etc.,) are trimming shipment targets for 2026, with OPPO cutting its forecast by as much as 20%, according to the report.
Low-end smartphones will be hit a lot as DRAM could soon account for as much as 30% of low-end smartphones’ bill of materials, tripling from 10% in early 2025. The biggest impact would be on cheaper handsets that lack pricing power.
The ongoing memory crisis ranks among the “biggest supply chain disruptions” we’ve seen, with ripple effects hitting electronics, telecom, and automotive sectors throughout the year.
Leading memory giants Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix have shifted focus towards HBM for AI accelerators, with demand expected to increase 70% year-over-year in 2026 alone, according to TrendForce.
Meanwhile, tech giants like Alphabet and Amazon announced capital expenditure plans reaching $185 billion (Rs. 16.79 lakh crore approx.) and $200 billion (Rs. 18.16 lakh crore approx.), respectively, this year – more than any company in history.