Most people thought console prices might go up because of a global shortage of computer memory, but few predicted Sony would be the first to raise them. Starting April 2nd, the PlayStation 5 will cost $650, and the more powerful PS5 Pro will be priced at $900. Industry analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believes this move could lead Microsoft and Nintendo to increase their console prices as well.
Sony’s recent price increase for PlayStation consoles was largely expected, given the ongoing and significant rise in the cost of memory and storage – key parts for the hardware. According to one expert who spoke with Eurogamer, Sony likely had agreements in place to lock in component prices for a certain time, and those protections have probably now expired.
Because demand for the hardware needed to support artificial intelligence is keeping prices high, Sony likely adjusted its strategy to maintain its profit on consoles. It’s probable that Microsoft and Nintendo will make similar changes soon.
With inflation continuing to rise, the higher cost of consoles could also impact game sales. The console and PC gaming industries depend on new players investing in hardware to keep growing, and if that investment slows down, demand for new games might decrease. While highly anticipated games like Grand Theft Auto 6 are expected later this year and could boost sales for PlayStation and Microsoft, it’s reasonable to question whether even more people would buy games if consoles were more affordable.
Microsoft has raised the prices of Xbox consoles twice, once in May and again in October. Currently, the Xbox Series X costs $650, and the special 2 TB Galaxy Black Edition sells for $800. Nintendo hasn’t announced any price changes for the Switch 2, which came out in July 2025, but they have said that future first-party games will be priced differently depending on whether you buy a physical copy or a digital download.
Console sales in the US are slowing down, and reports suggest Nintendo is planning to reduce Switch 2 production by more than 30%. Raising prices at this time would likely make the situation worse.
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2026-03-29 22:41