The chip crisis that erupted immediately after the pandemic continues in a new form: the exorbitant increases in memory (RAM) that as has already been seen have caused price hikes in multiple sectors, all united by the fact that they weigh on the final price to the detriment of the consumer.
The latest confirmation of such a critical situation comes from Japan, with the hi-tech giant Sony announcing on an emergency basis that it is no longer able to accept new orders for almost its entire range of CFexpress and SD memory cards and simultaneously has again raised the prices of its PlayStation 5 gaming console. But let’s proceed in order.
MEMORY CRISIS, SONY’S WARNING
The first communication from Sony’s official channels mainly concerns those who need to transfer large amounts of data from one device to another (usually from the camera to their personal computer) and refers to the “global shortage of semiconductors (memory) and other factors” and clarifies that supply will not meet demand “for the foreseeable future.”
What alarms users is the fact that the notice does not indicate any date for resumption: Sony reserves the right to communicate changes based on the supply situation, a clear sign that even electronics giants are “navigating blindly.”
THE MODELS INVOLVED
The halt, unsurprisingly, concerns the entire professional and consumer offering. For CFexpress Type A, the models CEA-G240T, CEA-G480T, CEA-G960T, and CEA-G1920T are unavailable. For CFexpress Type B, the halt concerns models CEB-G240T and CEB-G480T.
Regarding SDXC and SDHC cards, it will not be possible to order and purchase the TOUGH cards of 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB, the SF-M and SF-E series with capacities between 64 GB and 512 GB, and also the SD V30 cards of 64 GB and 128 GB.
Many analysts also express concern that the list includes smaller capacities and lower-performance lines: a presence that could indicate that the RAM crisis no longer only affects larger capacities and high-end cards but is also reverberating on lower-tier products.
PLAYSTATION 5 PRICE INCREASE
At the same time, Sony has decided to raise once again the prices of its PlayStation 5 gaming console: “Given the ongoing pressures on the global economy, we have decided to increase the prices of PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal” worldwide “starting April 2,” the company explained in a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Absolutely crazy console generation.
I paid €470 for PS5 Disc Slim in February 2024.
Middle and lower class incomes will be priced out of console gaming at this rate, while it used to be an affordable entry into the world of videogames.
Unsustainable if this trend continues. pic.twitter.com/vKx9KEjsFB
— MauroNL (@MauroNL3) March 27, 2026
In Europe, consoles will cost 100 euros more, bringing prices to 599.99 euros and 649.99 euros respectively for the digital-only and disc drive versions, and 899.99 euros for the more powerful PS5 Pro. The PlayStation Portal, an accessory in the form of a controller with a screen for remote play via internet connection, will be sold with a 30-euro surcharge, reaching 249.99 euros.
There are also those who have lined up the various price increases that have occurred so far, highlighting that the model that has undergone the largest increases is the PS5 Digital, with +50% in Europe and the United States and +44% in the United Kingdom. In Japan, the price increase is triple-digit, at 125%. At the start of the generation, the console that does not allow disc reading (and should therefore cost less) was priced at 39,980 yen; it has now reached 89,980. The price of the model with an optical drive has increased by 96% instead.
