Sony announced Wednesday that it will increase the price of the PlayStation 5 console. The price adjustments, attributed to a “challenging economic environment,” specifically referencing tariffs on imported products, will take effect beginning on Thursday, August 21.
The price increase will affect the PlayStation 5 and its various editions. The standard PlayStation 5 will now retail for $549.99. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will be priced at $499.99. The PlayStation 5 Pro will see its price rise to $749.99. These changes are specific to the U.S. market, as Sony stated it does not currently plan to alter prices in other regions or for PlayStation accessories.
The “challenging economic environment” cited by Sony appears to be connected to tariffs imposed on imported products. On July 31, the White House announced a 15% tariff on goods imported from Japan. This tariff adds to the cost of manufacturing and importing the PlayStation 5 consoles into the United States, impacting Sony’s pricing strategy.
Sony previously raised prices for PlayStation consoles in select regions. In April, the company increased prices in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, citing similar economic challenges. These prior increases, like the current one in the U.S., were attributed to factors impacting the cost of production and distribution. In 2022, Sony also increased console prices due to inflation in some regions, but the U.S. market remained unaffected at that time.
Other companies in the gaming industry have also announced pricing changes. Microsoft indicated in May its intention to increase console prices by $80 to $100. Additionally, Microsoft plans to raise the prices of certain games, controllers, and accessories. Nintendo, on the other hand, has opted for a different approach. While Nintendo plans to increase the prices of some accessories for the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, the company has stated there are no plans to raise the price of the console itself.
