While players scan the horizon waiting for news of the PS6 and the next Xbox, a technological upheaval much deeper than the simple postponement of GTA 6 could change everything: artificial intelligence. At the crossroads between innovation, shortage of components and industrial strategies, AI is already redrawing the lines of the next-gen calendar.
A 2027 window on borrowed time
Historically, console manufacturers follow a relatively regular cycle: every 6 to 8 years, a new machine is released. After the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series at the end of 2020, the natural deadline seems to point towards 2027.
But this estimate, until now considered plausible, now faces two major obstacles. On the one hand, the blockbuster GTA 6, postponed to November 2026, encourages us to extend the life of current consoles. On the other, a component crisis fueled by the rush to AI could simply make producing new consoles much more complex and expensive.
The shadow of GTA 6… but not the one we think
GTA 6, expected to be a media and commercial tidal wave, could in theory boost sales of PS5 and Xbox Series in their last phase of life. Sony and Microsoft could therefore want to take full advantage of this dynamic, even if it means voluntarily postponing the new generation until 2028.
But if GTA 6 plays a role in strategic decisions, it may not be the real obstacle. The impact of AI on the global technology production chain may well be the real hidden obstacle.
When artificial intelligence siphons off the components market
The heart of the problem lies in a small but crucial part: DDR5 memory. Used in high-end PCs as well as in future consoles, this memory is now being taken by storm… by the artificial intelligence industry.
Cloud giants – Amazon, Microsoft Azure, Google, NVIDIA – are buying this memory in bulk, powering their data centers, AI servers and model training farms. Result: production intended for the general public decreases, prices explode, and supply chains become entrenched in a logic of scarcity.
This DRAM shortage could slow down, or even suspend, the production of key components for the PS6 and Xbox Next. And in an industry where the manufacturing price directly influences the profitability of a console, the impact is far from negligible.
Sony and Microsoft at the crossroads
Faced with this uncertainty, several options are available to manufacturers:
- Launch a high-priced next-gen console, even if it means cutting margins,
- Focus on “Pro” versions or intermediate iterations, like the PS5 Pro, while waiting for more favorable conditions,
- Explore alternative architectures, integrating components that are more available or optimized for cloud gaming.
What is certain is that AI, often seen as an ally in game development, could also become a factor in slowing down hardware.