Sony has announced imminent price hikes for PlayStation 5 consoles in the US. These price increases target both the physical and digital versions of the base PS5, as well as the stronger PS5 Pro.
The PS5 was launched in late 2020 for an asking price of $500 for the standard version and $400 for the discless Digital Edition. Where consoles historically dropped in price over their lifecycles, though, this trend has yet to rear its head for the PS5. In fact, the PS5 saw price increases in numerous regions over the past few years, including a $50 increase for the Slim Digital Edition that launched in late 2023. Sony did explain last year that the PS5 price stagnation is due to its chipset’s die size being “very difficult” to reduce, and that remains the case to date.
PS5 Prices Will Increase By $50 in the US from Tomorrow
Now, the PS5 is set to become even more expensive to bring home, as Sony confirmed in a recent PlayStation Blog post that the console’s pricing will be hiked by $50 across the board starting tomorrow, August 21. This means that the PS5 Digital Edition will jump from $449 to $499, the standard PS5 will go from $499 to $549, and the already-controversial $699 PS5 Pro will cost $749. Sony says that this PS5 price increase was made in light of “a challenging economic environment,” and notably, prices for the console’s accessories will not see any change in the US, at least for now.
PS5 Price Increase Details
- Goes into effect tomorrow, August 21
- Blanket $50 increase for all PS5 versions
- PS5 Digital Edition: $499
- PS5: $549
- PS5 Pro: $749
This hike comes not long after Sony CFO Lin Tao stated during the company’s Q4 FY2025 earnings call that global inflation and tariff tensions between the US and China – where the majority of PS5 units are manufactured – could lead to widespread price increases for the console. Just a month prior to Tao’s statement, Sony increased PS5 prices in major regions like the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and more, similarly citing a “challenging economic environment,” as well as “high inflation” and “fluctuating exchange rates.” The US is currently the strongest market for PlayStation, and it’s evident that Sony was holding off on increasing prices in the region for as long as possible.
Of course, Sony isn’t the only console maker that has succumbed to price hikes in recent memory. Back in May, Microsoft announced sweeping price increases for Xbox consoles, accessories, and even upcoming games ($80). Interestingly, the PS5 will be $50 less expensive than the Series X – which currently costs $600 – but the fact that these consoles were the most affordable when they launched is nothing short of uncanny.
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