Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden doesn’t think the PS6 needs a bigger leap in power to succeed. In a GamesRadar+ report on his appearance on The Trophy Room podcast, Layden argues that the real breakthrough would be an affordable next-gen console, not another round of ray tracing and teraflops.
Why Layden says power isn’t the answer
Layden’s case starts with history. He recalls that earlier generations delivered “something mind-blowing” with every launch, citing the jump from PS1 to PS2 and the move from compact disc to DVD. Even the PS4 arrived as a fully networked machine, he says, and Sony still sold it for $399.
The current rumours point the other way. GamesRadar+ notes that talk around the PS6 centres on more ray tracing and more teraflops, which Layden dismisses as “differences only dogs can hear” for the average player. We’ve covered those claimed performance targets in our report on the PS6 and next-gen Xbox chips reportedly taping out, but Layden’s point is that most buyers won’t notice them.
A $300 console as “true innovation”
His alternative is blunt. “I think we have enough power in the machine,” Layden says, adding that innovation shouldn’t mean a PS6 at $1,200 but “another PS5 for $300”. He urges Sony to do what it has never done and stop iterating the console, making it smaller and cheaper instead. In his view, the PS5’s power is “more than enough” to build the games players want.
The $1,200 figure is Layden’s own illustration, not a Sony number. Sony hasn’t announced a PS6 price, though the chatter around it has been steep. We’ve reported on claims that Sony won’t sell the PS6 at a significant loss, and on an analyst’s warning that a $1,000 price could cut next-gen sales by up to 38%.
Prices that only go up
Layden’s timing is pointed because today’s consoles cost more than they did at launch. He describes this as the first platform he’s seen that has gone up in price over time. Sony’s most recent hike took effect on 2 April 2026, when the PlayStation Blog set US prices at $649.99 for the PS5, $599.99 for the Digital Edition and $899.99 for the PS5 Pro.
GamesRadar+ ties rising console costs to the ongoing RAM shortage, as AI data centres absorb memory used in everything from consoles to smartphones. Layden says those prices shut out a large crowd of buyers who would traditionally have jumped in near the end of a generation, when hardware got cheaper. Memory is also a live question for the next machine: one leaker claims PS6 RAM and storage could cost Sony over USD 680 per console, though that remains unverified.
Where the PS6 stands
Sony hasn’t set a launch date. The company’s chief executive recently said the timing is still open because sourcing parts remains difficult, a position we covered in PS6 release date undecided, with a price that could be $1,000. Meanwhile, a separate leak points to a Holiday 2027 window for the PS6 and Xbox Project Helix, and an insider says the console won’t slip to 2028 or 2029. None of those claims is confirmed by Sony.
Layden has also been vocal about the hardware itself. GamesRadar+ lists his recent views that Sony has a good chance of winning with a PS6 handheld if there’s no home console alongside it, which echoes the hybrid strategy hinted at by SIE CEO Nishino. He no longer works at PlayStation, so his comments are an outside view rather than a hint of Sony’s plans.
Has Sony announced a PS6 price?
No. Sony hasn’t confirmed a price or a release date for the PS6. The $1,200 and $300 figures in Layden’s comments are his own illustration, and the higher numbers elsewhere come from analysts and leaks.
Why are consoles getting more expensive?
GamesRadar+ attributes the increases to the ongoing RAM shortage, with AI data centres consuming memory that consoles and phones also rely on. In its March 2026 announcement, Sony cited “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” for the latest PS5 price rise.
What are PS5 prices in the UAE?
Sony’s price announcement listed recommended prices for the US, UK, Europe and Japan only, and tells buyers elsewhere to check local retailers. We recommend checking UAE retailers directly for current PS5 pricing.
