Since the PS5’s release in November 2020, Sony has sold over 78 million units, each with a suggested retail price of $500. On August 20th, 2025, Sony announced that the three editions of the console would experience a price increase. Starting on August 21st, 2025, only a day later from the original announcement, all PS5s would undergo a price increase of $50: PS5 Digital – $450 to $500, PS5 Standard – $500 to $550, PS5 Pro – $700 to $750.
Sony explains that the drastic price increase is due to Donald Trump’s new tariffs, which were imposed in April. With the U.S currently having a 30% tariff on imports from China, Sony essentially has no choice but to roll out changes to their pricing. CEO Hiroki Totoki stated the company is paying close attention to tariff impacts. According to their blog post, Sony will “…continue to navigate a challenging economic environment.” While they will have to adapt to the current economic situation, there is good news. Sony has officially announced that add-ons, such as controllers and headsets, will remain at the same price.
In comparison to their competition, Sony likely won’t lose their edge. Back at the start of May, Microsoft announced a $100 price increase on the Xbox Series X. According to pcmag.com, “Sony’s statement didn’t directly mention tariffs, but they are likely at least part of the reason for the price changes. Tariffs are currently in place on countries where the PS5 is produced, including China, Malaysia, and Vietnam.” The blog further explained that the changes would only be rolled out in the U.S. Although this announcement is set in stone for now, there is no guarantee that Sony will stick to their plan. Circana executive director Mat Piscatella weighed in on the situation, saying, “…was just a matter of time. Thing is, this is likely not the last time we’ll see upticks.”
Though it seems Sony is at a loss right now, they may have another solution. According to TweakTown.com, “The reality is that Sony is shifting towards monthly active users (MAUs) and digital spending instead of just selling consoles.” This means that instead of Sony focusing on the sales of their consoles, they will look to an increase in digital spending and micro-transactions. In the past, PlayStation subscriptions and/or digital products have been notorious for being bumped up in price. The most notable instance of this came back in April, when PS Plus was announced to have a 21% price increase. This also means that there is little to no chance of seeing a price drop on any PS5 model. With the highly anticipated PS6 not expected to be on shelves until 2027-2028, there is no point for Sony to lower prices. If there are any games you’re interested in acquiring, now may be the time to do so, as another possible price spike could occur in the near future.
In an ever-changing global market, Sony is trying their best to combat the changes. With competitor companies like Microsoft and Nintendo jumping in on the changes, it begs the question: Will consoles live to be the affordable, family-friendly systems we have all grown to love? As digital spending grows and consoles become less affordable, students and families may soon have to rethink what it means to be a gamer. It’s not just about the latest hardware anymore—it’s about access, adaptability, and how much we’re willing to pay to stay plugged in.
