[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] Sony's next-generation console PS6 could have memory and storage component costs alone exceed $680 (about 900,000 won), an estimate showed.

On Oct. 19 (local time), online outlet Gigazine reported that Kepler_L2, known for leaked hardware information, claimed the PS6's RAM and SSD could cost more than $680 by themselves.

The estimate is unofficial and not a Sony announcement. Sony has not disclosed the PS6 specifications or price. If component costs rise to that level, the finished product price could also rise, the report said. The previous generation PS5 had a higher-end Pro model priced at 137,980 yen (about 1.2 million won).

Attention has focused on how sharply the cost estimates have risen in a short time. In March, Kepler_L2 offered a relatively optimistic outlook that the PS6's total manufacturing cost could be about $760 (about 1.01 million won). In June, it claimed component costs alone could reach about $960 (about 1.27 million won). This time, it said memory and SSD alone could cost more than $680. It did not disclose how it calculated the figures.

The market is watching these estimates in connection with Sony's hardware sales stance. Hideaki Nishino (니시노 히데아키), president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), has said on hardware sales strategy, "In principle, we have no intention of selling hardware while accepting large losses." The remark suggests that if component cost increases materialise, the next-generation device's pricing policy could also be designed conservatively.

Behind this is recent supply pressure for memory and storage devices. The outlet said shortages of memory and storage devices are persisting due to a surge in AI demand. It said Micron sees the memory shortage potentially continuing beyond 2028. Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra (산제이 메흐로트라) also warned that customers could end up paying "much higher prices" than this year.

Such conditions could directly burden product categories that require large-capacity memory and high-speed storage, such as consoles. The PS6 figures are unverified estimates, but it has become clear that a key variable in setting next-generation console prices is shifting from performance competition alone to component supply and cost structures. It remains to be seen what specifications and pricing strategy Sony will present in the future.