Sony announced an increase in the suggested retail price for its PlayStation 5 consoles in the United States, effective from August 21st. In a statement released via the PlayStation Blog on Wednesday, they explained that this decision was made due to the ongoing difficulties faced by many global businesses in the current economic climate. Here are the new prices for each model of the PlayStation 5 console currently available:
* PlayStation 5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc drive: $499.99 (previously $399.99)
* Digital Edition PlayStation 5: $399.99 (previously $299.99)
- PlayStation 5 – $549.99
- PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – $499.99
- PlayStation 5 Pro – $749.99
The price of each PlayStation 5 console has increased by $50 at every price point, currently set at $500, $450, and $700 respectively. Sony clarifies that at present, they are not raising the prices of any accessories. It’s essential to remember that in April, Sony already boosted the cost of all PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers.
It is worth mentioning that this is the first price hike for the system in the U.S. this year, but the PlayStation 5’s cost has previously gone up outside the U.S., with Sony raising prices for certain models in Australia, Europe, the U.K, and New Zealand in April.
This increase follows Microsoft’s move to raise prices on its consoles and accessories in May, causing a $599 price tag for a standard Xbox Series X.
Unlike this, Nintendo has not yet increased the price of the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 console, but they have raised the prices of accessories and the original Nintendo Switch, which was launched way back in 2017.
Why are console prices going up?
In the realm of console manufacturing, it seems a delicate dance is being performed amidst the backdrop of macroeconomic conditions and tumultuous financial landscapes. As an onlooker, I can’t help but notice the intricate steps these companies take to navigate these complexities.
The US Trump administration has instigated tariffs on countries supplying console components, which in turn is causing a rise in production costs. In response, these companies are choosing to pass these increased costs onto consumers rather than absorbing the financial hit themselves.
Recently, during Gamescom 2025, we were granted an October 16 release date for the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. However, Microsoft has yet to reveal the pricing details for these devices, citing that more information will be unveiled in the coming weeks. While rumors suggest a $900 price tag for the high-end Xbox Ally X and $550 for the regular model, we’ll have to wait and see if these estimates hold true.
Hardware skyrockets, but publishers seem skittish on raising game prices…for now
In the world of gaming, while hardware costs are on the rise, software publishers seem reluctant to boost prices. Nintendo set the precedent with Mario Kart World and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Nintendo Switch 2 at $80 each. Following this, Microsoft indicated a price hike for some games this fall, such as Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds 2. However, they later reconsidered this decision. So far, no other publishers have followed suit with an $80 price tag for their games in 2025.
It remains to be seen if this trend will continue into next year, but for now, $70 seems to be the maximum price outside of a select number of Nintendo titles. The big question mark hangs over Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games’ upcoming title, Grand Theft Auto 6. Scheduled for release in May 2026, this game is anticipated to be a cultural sensation.
The official price for the game has yet to be revealed, but if it surpasses $70, I can imagine other publishers attempting to establish a new price point again.
Read More
- Minecraft lets you get the Lava Chicken song in-game — but it’s absurdly rare
- Gold Rate Forecast
- PS5’s ChinaJoy Booth Needs to Be Seen to Be Believed
- Lewis Capaldi Details “Mental Episode” That Led to Him “Convulsing”
- Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
- Cyberpunk 2077’s Patch 2.3 is Here and It’s Another Excellent Overhaul
- Yungblud Vows to Perform Ozzy Osbourne Song “Every Night”
- Elden Ring Nightreign’s Patch 1.02 update next week is adding a feature we’ve all been waiting for since launch — and another I’ve been begging for, too
- Microsoft is on track to become the second $4 trillion company by market cap, following NVIDIA — and mass layoffs
- Rob Schneider’s Happy Gilmore 2 Role Is Much Different Than We Thought It’d Be
2025-08-20 23:09