Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has announced a price hike for certain PlayStation 5 models across select markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The changes, revealed on Sunday via the official PlayStation Blog, come amid what Sony describes as a “challenging economic environment,” including global inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.
In Europe, the PS5 Digital Edition now retails for €499.99. However, the price for the Standard PS5 model with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive remains unchanged. A similar pattern has been observed in the UK, where the PS5 Digital Edition now costs £429.99, while the Standard model retains its current price point.
The pricing adjustments have also been extended to the Asia-Pacific region as well. In Australia, both models have seen increases: the Standard PS5 with disc drive now sells for AUD $829.95, while the Digital Edition costs AUD $749.95. New Zealand follows suit, with the Standard model priced at NZD $949.95 and the Digital Edition at NZD $859.95.
Interestingly, the PS5 Pro remains unaffected by the price changes in all affected regions.
In a slight counterbalance, Sony has lowered the cost of the PS5’s external disc drive attachment in these same regions. The new prices are as follows:
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Europe: €79.99
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UK: £69.99
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Australia: AUD $124.95
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New Zealand: NZD $139.95
The company also indicated that other unspecified markets within the broader EMEA region (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) may have received similar price adjustments, though no specifics were provided at this time.
This is not the first time Sony has adjusted PlayStation pricing due to global financial factors. In Japan, the company raised the PS5’s suggested retail price and peripheral costs back in September 2022, attributing the change to "severe external conditions" and ongoing economic shifts worldwide. Meaning this the second price shift within 3 years hinting at uncertain times or possibly hard times for the company.
With the gaming industry continuing to navigate rising manufacturing and shipping costs, this move underscores the financial pressures developers and hardware makers face even years after a console’s initial release. Will other companies be making a similar move? Only time will tell, but this is sure to not bode well for gamers and those who want to hop into the gaming space at a cheaper price.
What are your thoughts on the announcement? Have you already purchased your PS5? Would this price raise stop you from purchasing a new one? Let us know your answers in the comments down below!
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