Soaring RAM and SSD Prices Could Keep the Current PC and Console Generation Alive Longer—and That’s a Good Thing

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Like many PC gamers, I’ve been frustrated by the recent surge in prices for computer parts. Just when we were starting to see GPU prices come down from the big increases during the pandemic, the cost of SSDs and RAM began to climb quickly as well.

Recent data from PCPartPicker shows significant price increases for computer components. For example, the average cost of a 16GB kit (two 8GB sticks) of DDR4 RAM went from around $40 in July 2024 to $140 by November 2025. While not as steep, SSD prices have also risen considerably. PC Gamer notes that a popular 2TB Western Digital Black SN850X SSD increased in price from $130 in August 2025 to $221 in December 2025.

The rising prices of SSDs and RAM are particularly worrying because of a shortage of these parts. This shortage is happening because so many data centers are currently being built. This is concerning for several reasons, including the possibility that the release of new gaming computers and components might be pushed back.

Why RAM and SSD Shortages Could Mean a Longer Wait for New Gaming Tech

Consoles Sell at a Loss, Kind Of

As a movie and gaming critic, I’ve always known consoles weren’t about instant riches for Sony and Microsoft, but the recent Epic vs. Apple trial really shed light on just how little profit they make directly from the hardware itself. Xbox’s VP Lori Wright actually testified they’ve never turned a profit on console sales! Sony’s a bit different – they said they started seeing a profit on the standard PS5 disc version about a year after it launched. However, the numbers for the all-digital PS5 are still pretty unclear. It’s fascinating – they’re essentially betting on the long game, making money through games, services, and subscriptions, not the consoles themselves.

It’s somewhat surprising that Sony is already making a profit on sales of the PS5 Disc Edition so soon after its release. Usually, it takes several years – and sometimes never – for a console to generate enough revenue to cover its manufacturing costs.

As a film buff, I think about this a lot when it comes to gaming consoles. It’s become clear to me that companies don’t really make money selling the consoles themselves. They’re counting on us buying games, signing up for online services, and grabbing extras like controllers. They basically accept losing money on the hardware as just the cost of getting us hooked into their system. Ideally, they’d love to avoid those initial losses, so they’re always trying to cut costs in manufacturing, but the real profit comes from everything after you buy the console.

The recent, rapid increase in the cost of components like SSDs and RAM could disrupt the usual console upgrade cycle. It might actually be more practical for companies to extend the lifespan of their current consoles, rather than risk significant financial losses by rushing into production of new, high-end hardware. This aligns with the current console market dynamics: PlayStation is currently dominating sales and isn’t concerned about Xbox’s smaller share, while Xbox acknowledges it’s unlikely to overtake PlayStation. The new Nintendo Switch has just launched, but Nintendo typically doesn’t prioritize cutting-edge technology, so they’re less affected by these cost increases.

PC and Console Hardware Could Use a Breather

While the PlayStation 5 is selling incredibly well, many gamers aren’t as excited about consoles overall. A major reason for this could be that new console generations aren’t offering the same dramatic improvements they used to. In the past, moving from one console generation to the next – like from the PlayStation 1 to the PlayStation 2 – meant a huge difference in graphics and gameplay. Now, the difference between games on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 is much less noticeable. We’re seeing a similar trend with graphics cards – the improvements between NVIDIA’s 40-series and 50-series cards aren’t as significant as they once were.

While things like more memory, faster loading speeds, and powerful processors are helpful, they don’t always create the emotional connection players crave in a game. The impact of incredibly realistic graphics has lessened over time, especially considering how expensive the technology has become. Therefore, it might be a better financial move for game companies to emphasize things like unique gameplay, a compelling story, or complex game mechanics when promoting their new titles.

Game streaming also discourages people from buying new gaming consoles or computers, as they can play games without needing the latest hardware.

The Good News: It’s Time for a New Perspective on Console and PC Hardware

Video game technology isn’t as important to players as it once was. It seems people are prioritizing fun and engaging gameplay over the latest hardware. Looking at the biggest games of 2025, this is clear: out of the six nominees for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, only one – Death Stranding 2 – truly stands out for its advanced graphics or technology.

This isn’t discouraging developers from innovating, but it seems like both the companies that make gaming hardware and the players themselves are now more focused on the quality of the games themselves, rather than the technical specs. Things like ray tracing, 4K resolution, and a smooth 60 frames per second used to be major selling points, but now they’re expected standards. Most gamers seem satisfied with these levels of performance and aren’t demanding even more powerful technology.

Popular, less demanding games like Hollow Knight Silksong and Hades 2 are proving very successful, even on older or less powerful PCs and consoles. If SSDs and RAM continue to be expensive for both consumers and console makers, we’ll probably see more high-quality games designed for lower-end hardware in the coming years. While people might not be upgrading consoles or PCs right away, this could actually lead to a larger number of well-optimized games that run smoothly on the hardware most people already have, rather than constantly pushing for the latest technology.

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2025-12-24 18:09