Sony Hikes PS5 Prices Due to Economic Strain

Sony has announced a price increase for some PlayStation 5 models in certain regions, citing “challenging” global economic conditions. However, U.S. prices will remain unchanged.

The PS5 Digital Edition, which lacks a disc drive, will see a price hike of over 10% in Europe, the UK, and Australia, the company confirmed Monday. In a blog post on Sunday, Sony explained that the “tough decision” was made due to economic pressures, including high inflation and currency fluctuations.

The move comes amid ongoing global trade tensions, including the lingering effects of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which disrupted markets and fueled a trade war with China—raising concerns about broader economic instability.

New Zealand will also see higher prices for the Digital Edition, while Australia and New Zealand will experience increases for the standard PS5 with a Blu-ray drive. Sony also noted unspecified price adjustments in the Middle East and Africa.

However, the company announced a price drop for the standalone PS5 disc drive. All changes take effect immediately, though Sony confirmed the premium PS5 Pro model—released in November with enhanced performance and graphics—will remain at its current price.

With the PlayStation 5 having been released in 2020, the Pro version integrated improvements that allow games to run faster and with better graphics.

In Europe, the PS5 digital edition will now cost 499.99 euros ($570.04), PlayStation said, while in Britain its price will be 429.99 pounds ($566.53).