[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Sony said it has secured the parts it needs to meet its 2026 PlayStation 5 sales target even as memory prices surge on expanding demand for artificial intelligence. It dismissed concerns that rising memory prices could disrupt console supply and said it will continue stable hardware supply ahead of major year-end releases.

On Aug. 1 local time, online outlet GigaZine reported that Sony, through game media outlet IGN, said, "We have secured the memory needed to meet the forecast sales volume for 2026."

Memory demand has surged as AI data centres expand, putting pressure on the game console industry from rising component costs. Contract prices for legacy DRAM have risen about eightfold since the third quarter of 2024, the outlet reported.

Some console makers have raised prices. After Xbox and Nintendo increased selling prices, Sony also raised prices for the PS5, PS5 Pro and the PlayStation Portal Remote Player in late March 2026. The PS5 now sells for about 100,000 yen.

Sony stressed that rising memory prices will not affect its PS5 production and sales plans. The company said there is no change to its 2026 hardware profitability plan and it will keep it at the same level as in 2025. That means it will keep its supply plan and profitability targets intact despite higher memory costs.

The announcement is also drawing attention because it comes ahead of major game releases. Grand Theft Auto VI, set to be released in November 2026, is cited as a key variable that will drive new demand in the console market.

GTA6 is expected to launch first on consoles without an initial PC version, which could spur upgrade demand among existing PS4 users and encourage new purchases by users who have delayed buying a console for a long time.

For platform operators, it is important to secure sufficient hardware inventory at the time of a popular title's release. Sony is seen as emphasising through its memory procurement announcement that it is ready to respond to an expected rise in demand after GTA6 is released.

PS5 sales momentum itself is slowing. PS5 sales in the first quarter of 2026 were 1.6 million units, down about 36 percent from a year earlier. Sony is maintaining stable overall financial performance, but console hardware sales growth has slowed.

Sony's announcement is interpreted as a message that it will maintain PS5 supply and its profitability plan even amid the variable of AI-driven memory price increases, beyond simply news of securing components.

The market is focusing on whether PS5 demand can rebound on the back of GTA6's release and whether the memory Sony has secured can sufficiently support the expected period of sales expansion.