- Major retailers are suggesting that console demand will outstrip supply this holiday season.
- This is because of memory shortages and the release of GTA 6, renewing interest in hardware
- Stores haven’t received enough units to meet demand during the Christmas period.
The memory crisis isn’t showing any signs of coming to a halt, with some reports suggesting that prices might not decline before 2030. To make matters worse, gaming giants like Xbox have raised the cost of their hardware once again, making this generation even more difficult for consumers.
With GTA 6 around the corner, players need consoles more than ever as the title isn’t dropping on PC for a while. However, due to the current situation of the industry, there might not be many PS5 and Xbox Series consoles left by the time Christmas rolls around.
Why it matters: For the gaming industry, the launch of GTA 6 could not have come at a worse time, as the game will only contribute to supply issues instead of helping Sony and Xbox sell consoles.
According to The Game Business, a major retailer has stated that there won’t be enough consoles during the Christmas period to meet demand. The source revealed that due to issues around component availability caused by memory shortages, retailers aren’t getting the necessary hardware units required during the holiday season.
Furthermore, the demand for consoles will likely outstrip supply during the year-end Christmas period, especially because of the renewed interest in consoles thanks to the upcoming launch of GTA 6.
Hence, the ongoing memory crisis, coupled with this sudden increase in console demand, could make it unlikely for fans to procure a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S this December. Considering how Xbox CSO Matthew Ball has already stated that the demand for the company’s console is outstripping supply, this doesn’t seem too far-fetched.
Sony has reiterated that it secured enough memory to maintain a steady supply of hardware throughout 2026. But, with the current memory shortages persisting, it might be better to buy the console of your liking right now instead of waiting until Christmas.
Do you think retailers will run out of consoles due to memory shortages and the surge in demand because of GTA 6? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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