TOKYO, Japan – Sony has announced price hikes for certain models of its PlayStation 5 consoles in Europe, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, citing “challenging” global economic conditions.
However, the company confirmed that the price increases will not apply to the United States, where the cost of the PS5 will remain unchanged.
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, which lacks a disk drive, will see a price increase of over 10 percent in the affected markets, the company revealed in a statement on Monday.
This follows a blog post on Sunday, in which Sony explained that the decision was made amid a difficult economic environment marked by high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.
Sony attributed the price hikes to the ongoing impact of global economic factors, including volatile currency fluctuations and inflation, which have made production and distribution more costly.
“We understand that this is a tough decision,” Sony said in the blog post. “However, it was necessary to address the challenges posed by the current economic situation, including the global inflationary pressures and changing exchange rates that have affected costs.”
The price of the PS5 Digital Edition will now rise to 499.99 euros in Europe ($570.04) and 429.99 pounds in Britain ($566.53).
In addition, the standard PS5 with a Blu-ray drive will also see a price increase in Australia and New Zealand.
Sony also mentioned that there would be price adjustments in the Middle East and Africa, but did not provide specific details on those changes.
Notably, the company announced that the price of the PS5 disk drive on its own will decrease, offering some relief to consumers in those markets.
While the price increases are effective immediately, the newly launched PS5 Pro, which debuted in November 2024, will not be affected by the price changes.
The PS5 Pro, featuring enhanced performance and faster gameplay with better graphics, will maintain its higher price point.
The price adjustments come as global markets continue to grapple with the economic fallout from various factors, including U.S. trade tariffs and an ongoing trade war with China, which have disrupted supply chains and contributed to broader fears of an economic slowdown.
Despite the challenges, Sony remains committed to delivering its high-performance gaming consoles to a global market, and the company continues to roll out new innovations to enhance the gaming experience.
However, as the PS5 prices rise in key markets, the impact of inflation on consumer electronics could lead to shifts in purchasing patterns, especially for gamers looking for more affordable options.
