PlayStation DualSense controller and PlayStation 5 console.
Jakub Porzycki | nuphoto | Getty Images
Sony He hiked prices for flagship PlayStation 5 consoles in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing the “challenging economic environment” behind the movement.
In Europe, the PS5 digital edition costs 499.99 euros ($569.9), Sony said in a blog post on Sunday. This is up from the previous price of 449.99 euros. The company recommends that the UK’s recommended retail price is £429.99 and the previous price is £389.99.
There hasn’t been a price increase for the PS5 with HD Blu-ray disc drives in Europe and the UK, but the PS5 Pro, an upgraded console model released last year, also escaped hiking.
The PS5 price has also been raised for sale to Australia and New Zealand.
Sony said it had made a “strict decision” to raise prices against “backing up a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.”
Global financial and currency markets have been volatile since US President Donald Trump announced the so-called “mutual tariffs” in more than 180 countries earlier this month. Since then, Trump has reduced some taxes to make time for negotiations and exempt certain products, such as smartphones.
Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based game consulting firm Kantan Games, said Sony is likely to also raise the PS5 price in the US.
“I would be very surprised if Sony could maintain stable US PlayStation prices. It’s the “right” time for companies to raise prices as user rebound is comparable,” Toto told CNBC on Monday.
“Yes, I hope Sony will eventually raise prices in the US. Once, at least it’s a little more clear where the exact tariffs are heading.”
It’s not the first time Sony has raised the price of its console. This is now over four years ago. Previously, we hiked in various countries and regions in 2022, but last year we further increased the price of consoles in Japan.
