Sony Increase PS5 Prices Again After AI Causes DRAM Shortage & Inflation...

TL;DR

Sony raised PS5 prices up to $150 more because AI companies hoarding DRAM have caused a global memory shortage driving electronics inflation.

Key Points

• 1.PS5 prices jumped significantly effective April 2nd, 2026. The base disc PS5 now costs $650 (+$100), digital edition $600 (+$100), PS5 Pro $900 (+$150), and PlayStation Portal $250 (+$50) — representing up to $200 increases since each device's launch.
• 2.OpenAI triggered the DRAM crisis by consuming roughly 40% of global RAM supply. After OpenAI made simultaneous deals with SK Hynix and Samsung in late 2025, panic-hoarding by AI companies caused DRAM prices to double, triple, or quadruple, cascading into SSDs, GPUs, and all computing components.
• 3.Sony weathered the shortage longer than Microsoft by maintaining a DRAM war chest. Xbox was caught unprepared and raised prices more steeply earlier, while PlayStation's stockpile bought extra months — but that reserve is now depleted, forcing this second round of increases.
• 4.The DRAM shortage is projected to continue well into 2028–2030. This PS5 price hike signals the beginning of a broader chain reaction affecting smartphones, computers, TVs, routers, and any smart device — gaming becoming less affordable is just the first visible symptom.
• 5.Valve is delaying the Steam Machine price announcement due to component market volatility. Unlike subsidized consoles, the Steam Machine must be sold at a profit margin with no exclusives, meaning its price — if announced soon — could exceed the already-shocking $650–$900 PS5 range.