Sony has once again caused another PS5 price hike, this time blaming the reasoning on economic challenges such as high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates. This latest increase affects several regions, including Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. While price hikes are not uncommon in the gaming industry, they typically occur at launch—not a decade in console’s lifecycle. So, what does this mean for gamers in these regions?
Price Changes
The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition has seem the biggest increase
- Europe: Now priced at €499.99, up €50
- UK: Increased to £429.99, a £40 jump
- Australia: Both the Standard Edition and Digital Edition have gone up, with the Standard PS5 now costing AUD $829.95
- New Zealand: The Standard Edition is now NZD $949.95, while the Digital Edition costs NZD $859.95
Why The Increase?
Sony blames the PS5 price hike to economic pressures, including inflation and currency fluctuations. However, some analysts believe that geopolitical trade tensions, particularly U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made electronics, may also be influencing Sony’s pricing strategy. By raising prices in select international markets, Sony may be shielding the U.S. market from similar increases—at least for now.
Effect on Gamers
For players in affected regions, this price increase is frustrating. Many expected hardware prices to decrease over time, not rise. The PS5 Pro, however, remains unaffected by the price hike. In an attempt to soften the blow, Sony has slightly reduced the price of its detachable disc drive accessory, (by 17-33%) but this does little to offset the broader increase.
Future Of Pricing
With Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2 also facing potential price hikes due to tariffs, gamers may need to brace for a more expensive future. If inflation and trade tensions persist, Sony could extend price increases to North America in the near future. But hopefully it doesn’t have to come to that.
