NEW YORK CITY, New York: Sony elevated the value of its PlayStation 5 consoles within the U.S. by about US$50 from August 21, citing tariff uncertainty and rising prices because the online game business navigates a gradual restoration.
The Japanese electronics large introduced the modifications in a weblog put up on August 20. All three PS5 fashions will probably be affected, with the top-end PS5 Pro now priced at $749.99.
The transfer follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports from nations together with Japan and China, which have sparked fears of provide chain disruptions and better materials prices for electronics producers.
Sony raised console costs in a number of European markets in April. A month later, Microsoft adopted go well with, growing costs for its Xbox consoles and equipment within the U.S., Europe, Australia, and the UK.
Industry analysts had anticipated 2025 to be a powerful yr for gaming {hardware} gross sales, supported by blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto VI from Take-Two Interactive and Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2. But with Sony’s newest hike and the delay of GTA VI to subsequent yr, optimism concerning the business’s progress trajectory has dimmed.
The PlayStation 5, first launched in late 2020, has been a key driver of Sony’s gaming income, although demand has cooled following preliminary pandemic-era shortages. Analysts say increased worth tags may additional dampen gross sales simply as new premium video games had been anticipated to spark renewed console shopping for.
Sony burdened that the modifications apply solely to U.S. consoles. Prices in different international markets, in addition to equipment for the PS5, stay unchanged.