Sony has raised the price of each PS5 model by $50 in the US. This change went live on August 21 and is a big deal for a console that has been unchanged since 2020. Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, summed it up: the company is facing a tough economic environment.
First up, the standard PS5 is now $549.99, up from $499.99. The Digital Edition, which doesn’t have a disc drive, is $499.99, up from $449.99. The PS5 Pro is the biggest jump, from $699.99 to $749.99. These are Sony’s recommended retail prices, though some retailers may not update their shelves for a day or two. This timing is interesting given the new tariffs on imports to the US, especially from China where some of the PS5 is made.
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Sony isn’t touching the price of the DualSense controller or PlayStation Portal, so there’s some good news for those looking to expand their setup. This price increase is US only for now, after earlier increases in Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand this year. Sony followed Microsoft and Nintendo who have also raised Xbox and Switch prices due to rising costs. Sony paused production in May and stockpiled three months worth of consoles to weather the tariff impact. Behind the scenes, Sony’s leadership has been talking about the challenges. CFO Lin Tao mentioned in May that tariffs could hit the company for $684 million across its operations. President and CEO Hiroki Totoki even suggested moving some manufacturing to the US to avoid tariffs, but no plans have been announced. With that stockpile now depleted due to strong sales, Sony is passing the buck to the consumer. This is in line with a broader trend as Nintendo is hinting at possible price increases for the Switch 2.
Some see it as a necessary response to global economic pressures, others question the timing especially with the PS5 hitting 80 million units sold worldwide. With no PS6 until at least 2027 or 2028, Sony is milking the current lineup for all it’s worth. For now, you have until midnight tonight to get a PS5 at the old price from Amazon or PlayStation Direct. Time’s running out—will you get in before the price change takes effect?
