Valve is reportedly aiming to release the Steam Deck 2 in 2028, according to a well-known hardware insider. The target window isn’t locked in though, with the ongoing global RAM and NAND shortage potentially pushing the handheld PC’s successor even further out. If the delay happens, the silver lining is that it could ship with better hardware than originally planned.

KeplerL2’s Leak Points To A 2028 Window

The information comes from KeplerL2, a respected tech insider who posted a series of responses on the NeoGAF forums when asked about the Steam Deck 2’s timeline. According to KeplerL2, Valve has been targeting 2028 for the next-generation handheld, but the “whole RAM/NAND situation could delay it.”

The memory shortage has already had visible consequences for Valve’s current hardware. Both the Steam Deck and its OLED variant have been sold out since March 2026, the LCD model has been quietly discontinued, and Valve has said it is reassessing pricing for the Steam Machine as shortages continue into 2026.

No Semi-Custom SoC Gives Valve Flexibility

One of the more interesting details from the leak is that the Steam Deck 2 does not use a semi-custom System on a Chip in the same way the PlayStation 6 and Xbox’s Project Helix do. Those consoles typically lock in hardware components years ahead of launch through long-term manufacturing contracts, which means their specs are essentially fixed well before release.

Valve’s approach is different. Because the Steam Deck 2 isn’t tied to that kind of arrangement, a delay would actually allow Valve to swap in newer, more capable components as they become available. KeplerL2 noted that if the device gets pushed back, “it could end up with better specs” than what was originally planned, potentially making it the most capable handheld on the market at launch.

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How The Steam Deck 2 Stacks Up For Next-Gen Games

KeplerL2 also shed some light on what players can expect in terms of performance. The insider claims the Steam Deck 2 will feature a quad-core Zen 6c CPU that is slightly weaker than the PlayStation 5‘s processor. That should still be enough to run next-gen titles at 30 frames per second, which is a reasonable baseline for a handheld device.

The insider expects the cross-generation period to last throughout the entire PS6 and Xbox Helix generation, meaning games built to run on PS5 hardware should also be playable on the Steam Deck 2. Whether late-generation titles continue to support it depends partly on how Sony handles compatibility requirements for its own PlayStation handheld. If Sony mandates support, developers are less likely to push CPU-intensive design elements like dense NPC crowds or complex physics systems. If it doesn’t, some late-gen games could end up skipping portable hardware entirely.

When Will The Steam Deck 2 Actually Arrive?

The 2028 target seems relatively firm based on KeplerL2’s comments, but the realistic window could easily slip to 2029 or beyond if memory shortages don’t ease up. Valve’s current priority appears to be getting its existing product line back on shelves and sorting out the Steam Machine, which still has no confirmed release date or pricing. The Steam Deck 2, for now, is further down the queue.

As always with leaks, none of this is confirmed by Valve. KeplerL2 has a solid track record with hardware information, but plans can shift, especially when they’re subject to supply chain constraints outside Valve’s control.

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The price of the PlayStation 6 is already being questioned, and it hasn’t even been officially revealed yet.

Following Sony’s latest PlayStation 5 price hikes, multiple industry analysts are now warning that the next generation of consoles, including Xbox’s rumoured Xbox Project Helix, could launch at significantly higher prices, potentially reaching or even exceeding $999 USD.

PS5 Price Hike Sets The Tone For Next-Gen

Sony recently increased pricing across its PS5 lineup, with the PS5 Pro now sitting at $899.99 USD. That alone puts it dangerously close to four-figure territory, something that felt unthinkable just a few years ago.

According to reporting from GamesRadar+, analysts believe this move isn’t just a short-term adjustment. It may be laying the groundwork for how expensive the next generation will be.

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted the scale of the increase was larger than expected, highlighting just how volatile the current market has become.

Analysts Predict A 50 Percent Price Jump

Several experts now expect the PS6 and its Xbox counterpart to launch at around 50 percent higher than their predecessors.

Industry researcher Joost van Dreunen points to a combination of economic pressures, including tariffs, supply chain disruption, and a massive spike in memory costs. DRAM and NAND prices alone have reportedly surged between 80 to 90 percent since the start of 2026.

Van Dreunen believes the industry is “quickly moving towards a world in which a $1,000 console will be the norm”, suggesting gaming hardware is shifting further into luxury territory.

That prediction is echoed by Dr. Serkan Toto, who says a $999 price point for at least one PS6 variant is “not impossible”.

Why Console Prices Are Rising So Fast

The rising cost of consoles isn’t happening in isolation. Multiple overlapping factors are driving prices upward at the same time.

Manufacturing components have become more expensive, partly due to AI-driven demand for data centre hardware competing for the same resources. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions across parts of Asia are making production and distribution more difficult.

There’s also the reality of how console business models work. Hardware is often sold at slim margins or even at a loss, with companies relying on software sales to make money later. As costs increase, that balancing act becomes harder to maintain without raising upfront prices.

Sony’s Strategy Suggests Long-Term Planning

Some analysts believe Sony’s recent price increase may actually be a strategic move rather than a reactive one.

Dr. Toto suggests the company could be “baking in” future economic uncertainty now, opting for one larger price jump instead of multiple smaller increases over time. This approach also gives Sony room to reduce prices later or offer discounts if conditions improve.

It’s a way of managing expectations early, especially as the industry edges closer to announcing the next wave of hardware.

Timing And Pricing Still Far From Certain

Despite the bold predictions, there’s still a lot of uncertainty around both pricing and release timing.

Piscatella cautions that everything is still in flux, from when the PS6 might launch to how much it will actually cost. While some reports suggest a potential 2027 release window, nothing has been confirmed, and ongoing economic instability could push timelines further out.

Even if manufacturers delay, there’s no guarantee costs will drop. Contracts, supply commitments, and continued demand for high-end components could keep prices elevated regardless of timing.

A Future Where Consoles Become Premium Hardware

What’s becoming clear is that the traditional idea of consoles as the affordable entry point into gaming may be shifting.

If predictions hold, next-gen systems like the PS6 and Xbox Project Helix could move closer to premium, high-end devices, narrowing the gap between console and PC gaming costs.

That doesn’t mean cheaper options will disappear entirely, but flagship hardware may increasingly target players willing to invest more upfront.

With the industry heading toward its next big transition, the real question isn’t just when the PS6 will arrive, but how much gamers will be willing, or able, to pay when it does.

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Sony has secured a new patent describing a PlayStation controller concept that removes physical buttons entirely, replacing them with adaptive touch-based input surfaces. The filing, published in late January, outlines a highly customisable controller designed to adjust to different hand sizes, play styles, and accessibility needs, though there is no confirmation it will ever become a consumer product.

Sony Granted A New Buttonless Controller Patent

Sony Interactive Entertainment has been granted a United States patent for a controller that does not rely on traditional buttons, triggers, or sticks. The patent, identified as USPTO grant number 12533573 and first highlighted by Video Games Chronicle, was officially published on January 27, 2026, after being filed back in February 2023.

Unlike most PlayStation controller patents, which still incorporate some form of physical input, this design centres on adaptive input surfaces capable of detecting touch, taps, long presses, swipes, slides, and pressure. The concept represents a clear departure from conventional gamepad layouts rather than a minor iteration on existing designs.

How The Touchscreen Controller Would Work

According to the patent documentation, the controller replaces fixed buttons with touch-sensitive surfaces that can dynamically generate virtual controls. These controls appear and adjust based on how the player is holding the controller, allowing layouts to shift in real time.

In some illustrated implementations, the controller uses multiple touchscreens that illuminate virtual buttons, D-pads, or sticks where the player’s fingers naturally rest. However, the core patent claims do not require a screen at all. Instead, they broadly cover adaptive input surfaces, with visual feedback described as optional rather than essential.

This means the technology could theoretically be applied to a more traditional controller design that still includes some physical elements, rather than requiring a fully screen-based device.

Image Credit: Sony

Custom Layouts And Accessibility Focus

A central argument in Sony’s patent is that fixed controller layouts do not work for everyone. The company notes that standardised button placements can be uncomfortable or impractical for players with different hand sizes, physical disabilities, or unconventional play setups.

With the proposed design, players could reposition virtual buttons, resize them, or remove them entirely depending on the game. For example, a simple platformer could be mapped to a single oversized jump button, while a game that only needs a D-pad or left stick could eliminate unused inputs altogether.

Image Credit: Sony

Sony argues this approach could reduce the need to manufacture multiple specialised controllers, offering flexibility through software rather than hardware variants. At present, the company addresses accessibility through dedicated devices like the PlayStation 5 Access Controller, which launched in December 2023.

Sensors To Prevent Accidental Inputs

One potential concern with touch-based controllers is accidental input when a player rests their thumbs on the surface. Sony’s patent addresses this by referencing pressure and heat sensors capable of detecting the condition of the input surface.

While the filing does not clarify whether these sensors operate on simple on-off detection or varying sensitivity levels, the implication is that the controller could distinguish between a resting finger and an intentional press. This is a known issue in earlier touch-based controllers, such as third-party designs from the 1990s that replaced D-pads with touch panels and suffered from unintended movement.

Patent Volume And Commercial Reality

Sony files and secures a large number of patents every year, most of which never result in consumer products. Data cited from Parola Analytics shows that the Sony Group was granted 2,256 U.S. patents in 2025 alone, ranking it as the 14th most prolific patent filer, just below Dell and above Intel.

As of January 31, 2026, Sony and its subsidiaries reportedly hold more than 133,000 U.S. patents. The vast majority of these inventions have never been commercialised, making the statistical likelihood of this controller reaching market relatively low.

Could This Be Linked To PS6 Plans?

The timing of the patent’s publication has led to speculation about its relevance to Sony’s next console generation, often referred to as the PlayStation 6. However, the patent itself makes no reference to a specific console or release window.

That said, Sony has shown increasing interest in adaptive and context-aware controller technology. Recent patents have explored features such as controllers that detect whether a player is reclining or lying down and adjust inputs accordingly, as well as experimental designs involving deformable shapes or biometric sensors.

Given that accessibility is becoming a growing priority across the industry, this particular filing may have a higher chance of influencing future hardware than the average Sony patent, even if it never appears in its current form.

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Fresh reports suggest the PlayStation 6 release date may no longer land within the widely expected 2027 to 2028 window, as rising RAM prices and supply shortages force console makers to rethink their launch plans. According to multiple industry sources, the ongoing AI-driven demand for memory components is creating serious uncertainty around the next generation of hardware.

RAM shortages linked to AI demand

The latest claims come from Insider Gaming, with reporting by Tom Henderson indicating that major console manufacturers, including Sony and Microsoft, are actively discussing whether delays would be the safer option.

At the centre of the issue is RAM. Since late 2025, prices for DDR5 memory have surged, in some cases by several hundred percent, as AI companies rapidly buy up global supply to power data centres, model training, and enterprise infrastructure. That shift has pushed consumer hardware further down the priority list.

Memory makers are responding to where the margins are. Micron, which reportedly supplies around 30 percent of the consumer RAM market, has announced plans to exit consumer sales in 2026 and focus almost entirely on AI and enterprise clients. Other brands, including Kingston, have warned that component costs have jumped dramatically since early 2025.

PS6 plans may move beyond 2027

Leaks and reports over the past year have pointed to Sony targeting PS6 manufacturing in mid-2027, with a potential launch later that year. However, Insider Gaming claims console makers are now debating whether pushing launches further back would give RAM manufacturers time to expand production and stabilise prices.

In a recent podcast, tech analyst Moore’s Law Is Dead said it is still too early to know if the shortage will extend deep into 2027. He noted that the industry is racing to increase output and introduce new manufacturing processes, though shortages in 2026 now appear likely regardless.

That uncertainty leaves Sony and Microsoft facing an uncomfortable choice. Delay their next consoles and wait for costs to normalise, or launch on schedule and risk dramatically higher retail prices.

Higher prices already hitting current consoles

The RAM crunch is already being felt across the current console generation. Sony has raised PlayStation 5 prices in several regions, while Microsoft has increased Xbox Series X pricing multiple times. In some markets, the PS5 now costs more than it did at launch, a rare reversal in an industry where hardware prices traditionally fall over time.

Microsoft’s 2TB Xbox Series X has reportedly climbed as high as US$800 in some regions, a move that analysts say has contributed to falling Xbox hardware sales. Meanwhile, Nintendo has launched its Switch 2 at a higher price point than the original Switch, while also increasing prices on older models.

If RAM prices remain elevated, estimates suggest the PS6 and next Xbox could debut anywhere between US$800 and US$1,000, and potentially more in certain regions. Even at those prices, manufacturers may still be selling hardware at a loss.

Players are not rushing the PS6

Interestingly, many PlayStation fans appear comfortable with the idea of a delay. Reaction across social platforms suggests players would rather see the PS5 enjoy a longer life cycle than rush into another generation.

Comments shared on Reddit described the delay as “a blessing in disguise”, with players arguing that the current generation still has plenty of headroom and that developers are not yet hitting hard technical limits.

Some also point out that this generation was never expected to follow the traditional five to seven-year cycle, thanks to stronger launch hardware and long-term features such as advanced upscaling technologies.

Wider impact across the gaming industry

The pressure is not limited to Sony and Microsoft. Reports suggest the same memory shortages could affect pricing for other hardware, including Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine, as Valve is reportedly unwilling to subsidise costs in the way console makers often do.

With AI demand showing no signs of slowing and global consumer purchasing power already under strain, the next generation of consoles may arrive later, and cost more, than gamers have come to expect.

For now, the PlayStation 6 remains officially unannounced, and Sony has not commented on the reports. But if RAM prices fail to ease, it looks increasingly likely that PS5 owners may be sticking with their current consoles for a while longer.

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