Will the PS6 really sell for 7,000 yuan? Console gamers, don’t panic just yet.

Let’s start with the most glaring point: what’s surfacing about the PS6 this time isn’t performance, but cost. Hardware leaker KeplerL2 mentioned on the NeoGAF forums that the PS6’s bill of materials is estimated to be around $760, and that estimate is based on a 1TB Gen5 SSD and a digital-only version with no disc drive. For a console, that number no longer feels like a traditional living-room device, but more like a high-end compact PC preparing to move into the living room.

If the recent global PS5 price hikes have already left you feeling numb, this news will definitely make people even more uneasy. According to compiled reports, if Sony continues down its old path of “subsidizing hardware and making the money back through software and services,” then the PS6 could theoretically still come in at $699. But that’s also exactly where the problem lies: with Xbox now widely seen as no longer being such a direct rival, it’s hard to say whether Sony still has the motivation to keep heavily subsidizing its hardware.

Interestingly, the rumored PS6 specs are far from shabby. It’s expected to use a custom AMD 8-core Zen 6 APU, paired with an RDNA 5 GPU, and support higher-fidelity ray tracing. Speaking of that, what actually interests me more is the so-called “neural texture compression,” which is said to use AI to shrink game install sizes by about 50%. It’s like turning a limited backpack into a far more efficient pixel RPG inventory system—this kind of design thinking catches my eye more than simply piling on raw specs.

But unfortunately, better specs don’t automatically translate into a strong urge to upgrade. Alderon Games founder Matthew Cassells pointed out that Sony may find it difficult to smoothly move large numbers of PS4 and PS5 users over to PS6; if the sense of upgrade isn’t strong enough, cross-generation support may also be extended, with new titles continuing to support older hardware. It’s a bit like an indie game that only updates lighting and resolution without touching the core level design—players will immediately ask: so why exactly do I need to buy this?

What’s most alarming right now is still the price expectation. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter believes that, due to memory shortages and AI hardware demand squeezing the supply chain, the PS6’s actual retail price could very well reach $1000; Circana analyst Mat Piscatella also thinks that figure is “not impossible.” If it really gets to that point, the market price would be close to RMB 7000—at that point, it’s no longer “buying a console,” but “giving your hobby a mid-sized upgrade.”

Looking at the broader trend, Microsoft’s rumored next-generation console, Project Helix, may even exceed $1000, and is said to lean more toward a hybrid PC-console ecosystem. That means next-gen consoles may collectively be saying goodbye to the old idea of being a “relatively affordable entry point for performance,” and instead moving toward a path defined by high prices, long lifecycles, and strong service lock-in. For core players who love trying new hardware first, this may not be a bad thing; but for the majority who care more about value for money, the barrier is clearly getting higher.

So my advice is straightforward: if you already have a PS5, there’s really no need to start worrying in advance just because of PS6 rumors, and there’s even less reason to assume it’ll be a must-buy at launch. Current rumors point to a PS6 release window in the 2027 holiday season, and some analysts even believe it may arrive later than many people expect. Waiting until the price, launch lineup, and cross-generation policy are actually finalized before making a judgment is the steadier move. After all, no matter how powerful the machine is, it still needs content as instantly convincing as Hades before players will be willing to open their wallets.