In a move that is virtually unprecedented this late into a console generation, Sony has officially announced a massive, global price increase across the entire PlayStation 5 hardware family.
Here is the new US pricing structure you can expect next week:
PS5 (Disc Edition): $649.99 (Up $100)
PS5 Digital Edition: $599.99 (Up $100)
PS5 Pro: $899.99 (Up $150)
PlayStation Portal: $249.99 (Up $50)
In a statement on the PlayStation Blog, Sony cited “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” as the primary reason for the aggressive markup. The company stated that after careful evaluation, this was a “necessary step” to continue delivering high-quality gaming experiences.
Industry analysts point to several compounding factors driving this change. The tech industry’s massive push to build out artificial intelligence infrastructure has created a severe global memory (RAM) shortage, driving up component prices significantly. When combined with shifting international trade tariffs and global supply chain disruptions, the cost to manufacture these consoles simply isn’t dropping the way it normally would six years into a lifecycle.
This marks the second price hike for the PS5 in the US in less than a year (following a $50 bump last August). For perspective, the standard PS5 with a disc drive originally launched at $499.99 in November 2020. Now, years later, it will cost $650.
With Grand Theft Auto VI looming on the horizon and expected to drive massive console sales, this price increase is going to be a tough pill to swallow for gamers who have been holding out to upgrade. If you have been on the fence about grabbing a PS5, you have until April 2nd to secure one at the current price!
