Following weeks of speculation, Sony has officially confirmed the cost of its PlayStation 5 games consoles is being increased in multiple regions across the globe.
Citing a challenging economic environment, including “high global inflation rates as well as adverse currency trends,” Sony’s newly-inflated RRPs are being introduced across key regions including the UK, Europe, Australia, China, Mexico and Canada.
In the UK, the cost of a PS5 Digital Edition is shifting from £349.99 to £389.99, while the PS5 Disc Edition increases from £449.99 to £479.99.
Conjecturing somewhat, it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to suggest these new price points are more in keeping with what Sony originally intended. At launch, a £349.99 starting point seemed reactionary to rival console price points, much to the delight of eager gamers.
Curiously, two of what are arguably Sony’s most important regions – Japan and the USA – are being spared price hikes, at least for the time being. PS5 prices won’t increase in Japan until September 15, giving consumers a few weeks to beat the increase, while no hike is currently planned for the US.
Given increasingly complex trading conditions, this could be one of many consumer electronic price increases during a cost of living crisis. Despite a gloomy outlook, Sony states “improving the PS5 supply situation so that as many players as possible can experience everything that PS5 offers and what’s still to come.”
The full list of new RRPs is as follows:
- Europe
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – €549.99
- PS5 Digital Edition – €449.99
- UK
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – £479.99
- PS5 Digital Edition – £389.99
- Japan (effective Sept. 15, 2022)
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – ¥60,478 yen (including tax)
- PS5 Digital Edition – ¥49,478 yen (including tax)
- China
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – ¥4,299 yuan
- PS5 Digital Edition – ¥3,499 yuan
- Australia
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – AUD $799.95
- PS5 Digital Edition – AUD $649.95
- Mexico
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – MXN $14,999
- PS5 Digital Edition – MXN $12,499
- Canada
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – CAD $649.99
- PS5 Digital Edition – CAD $519.99
