I’ve been on trip or sick for a lot of the final two weeks. In that point, Microsoft soft-announced its subsequent console, Valve gave extra details about what the Steam Machine will have the ability to do, and Nvidia previewed DLSS 5 manner earlier than it was prepared. For sure, a variety of shit has gone down.
While you put all of it collectively, it begins to color an image of the following era of gaming {hardware} that appears utterly completely different than something we’ve seen earlier than. Quite than the same x86 packing containers that we acquired from the PS5 and the Xbox Sequence X, it looks as if each platform goes to be doing its personal factor.
That’d be superior in regular occasions, however the occasions we’re dwelling by way of are decidedly not regular. RAM and different {hardware} shortages are inflicting skyrocketing costs and delays aplenty, and now I’ve to ask the query: Even when the following era of gaming is superior, how many individuals are literally going to have the ability to take part?
Will the RAM Scarcity Final Till 2030?
With a lot details about next-generation {hardware} popping out, often that’d imply that new consoles and graphics playing cards are proper across the nook. However proper now, the RAM scarcity is throwing a wrench into that typical sequence of occasions.
Even only for PC gaming, the configuration I’d suggest to most individuals is 32GB of DDR5 RAM, simply to offer your self sufficient respiration room. Final 12 months, a 32GB equipment of RAM might have value you round $100, however in 2026, the value has ballooned. For example, the RAM I take advantage of to check {hardware}, a 32GB equipment of G.Talent Trident Z5 Neo, will set you again $489 on Newegg.
That will be dangerous sufficient if this was only a short-term scarcity, however we’re most likely going to should strap ourselves in for the lengthy haul. As early as January, I used to be being advised that the scarcity would final by way of 2027, and it seems that was the optimistic take.
As an alternative, SK Hynix Chairman Chey Tae-won has prompt that the RAM scarcity may final by way of 2030, in response to a report from Reuters. If that holds true, {hardware} goes to trickle out at an especially sluggish fee for the following few years and it is going to be rather more costly than it in any other case could be.
To be clear, this is not simply going to influence gaming PCs. DRAM is required for all gaming {hardware}, so this may influence Xbox Mission Helix and the Steam Machine as a lot as it’s going to DIY PC builders.
Both new consoles and graphics playing cards are going to be delayed into oblivion, or they’ll be so costly that most individuals will not have the ability to purchase them. And, properly, each choices type of suck!
The Xbox Mission Helix Curveball
Whereas all of this uncertainty has been cooking within the background, Microsoft got here out and gave some early info on the following Xbox, Mission Helix. I’ve been saying for a 12 months now that the next-generation Xbox was most likely going to be a glorified PC, and it looks as if I used to be on to one thing. The subsequent Xbox will have the ability to run all your PC video games, which implies it is operating on some type of Home windows 11 (or perhaps even Home windows 12?).
A 12 months in the past, when Phil Spencer first teased this method at Summer time Video games Fest, I used to be ecstatic. An Xbox that was additionally a gaming PC could be a good way to create a form of baseline for PC video games that builders may optimize their video games round. By the way, that’s additionally why I’m nonetheless wanting ahead to the Steam Machine. It doesn’t actually matter an excessive amount of to me how highly effective both of those packing containers are, as a result of the true service is setting the baseline for what video games ought to have the ability to run on.
Nevertheless, now that we’re in the midst of this seemingly endless RAM disaster, a gaming PC / console hybrid appears extra like a legal responsibility than it did a 12 months in the past. If Microsoft desires this factor to run any PC sport, it should be an open platform, similar to the Steam Machine. That’s positive to be nice information for anybody who buys it, however it additionally signifies that when it comes out, it’s going to be considerably dearer than a closed-off Xbox Sequence X followup in any other case could be.
That’s as a result of in a closed system like, say, the Xbox Sequence X, all sport gross sales undergo Microsoft, which takes a lower off the highest. That helps subsidize the price of the {hardware}, which is sometimes bought at a loss. A gaming console that additionally permits you to play video games by way of third-party shops gained’t have that assure, so it’s far more probably that Microsoft will promote the {hardware} to make a direct revenue from it, making it dearer.
It’s nonetheless manner too early to know what sort of {hardware} goes to be within the Helix-Field, however Microsoft made some lofty claims about its capabilities at GDC 2026 final week. Specifically, that the brand new console goes to have the ability to reap the benefits of Neural Rendering strategies – very similar to DLSS 5, which debuted earlier this week.
No matter Microsoft and AMD have cooking up in the way in which of Neural Rendering, the following Xbox is probably going going to be a bit much less… excessive than what Nvidia confirmed off, however it doesn’t matter what it’s, it’s going to be demanding. That DLSS 5 demo, whether or not you adore it or hate it, took up a variety of VRAM, needing two RTX 5090s to run it, in response to Digital Foundry. For context, one RTX 5090 has 32GB of GDDR7 video reminiscence, twice what’s discovered within the Xbox Sequence X, and that’s on prime of system reminiscence.
If AI goes to be core to the following Xbox, it’s going to want some severe {hardware}, and with {hardware} costs being what they’re now, it’s very potential that Mission Helix goes to value upwards of $1,000. That’s an enormous worth to pay for a sport console, and nearly $400 greater than the present base mannequin of the Sequence X.
Schrödinger’s Generation
With all of the rumors and product teases swirling across the web, it seems like the following era of video games is true across the nook. The tech is actually there for it, however as a substitute of feeling assured that we’re going to see the following consoles by the top of subsequent 12 months, it as a substitute looks like we’re in a {hardware} paradox and all of it comes right down to the RAM scarcity.
Thanks largely to the AI that’s going to play an enormous function in upcoming graphics expertise, the {hardware} that powers it’s dearer and scarce than ever earlier than. So, we’re in a holding sample, ready to see whether or not the costs are going to go down sufficient to make releasing new consoles and graphics playing cards at an inexpensive worth goes to be potential, or whether or not or not the producers are simply going to say screw it and launch extremely costly {hardware}.
The actuality is that it’s most likely going to land someplace within the center, with costly units which might be delayed just a few months. And, actually, I’ll be retaining my eye on the Steam Machine to offer a clearer image on what route issues might be leaning.
Jackie Thomas is the {Hardware} and Shopping for Guides Editor at IGN and the PC elements queen. You may observe her @Jackiecobra