Sony announced on Monday that it has increased prices for some models of its PlayStation 5 console in multiple regions due to “challenging” global economic conditions. The move affects the PS5 digital edition, which lacks a disk drive, as well as the standard edition in select countries.
In Europe, the digital edition will now cost €499.99 ($570.04), while UK customers will pay £429.99 ($566.53). The standard PS5 with a Blu-ray drive will also see price increases in Australia and New Zealand.
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The Japanese tech giant explained the decision in a Sunday blog post, noting the impact of high inflation and volatile currency exchange rates. “With a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, we made the tough decision to adjust prices in select markets,” the post said.
Customers in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the Middle East and Africa will see the changes take effect from Monday. Sony, however, did not disclose specific pricing details for the Middle East and Africa.
The US market is unaffected by the price adjustments. Analysts note that President Donald Trump’s inconsistent tariffs and ongoing trade tensions with China have contributed to global market instability, potentially influencing Sony’s pricing strategy.
Meanwhile, the higher-end PS5 Pro console, released in November 2024 with faster processing and enhanced graphics, will remain at its current price. Notably, the company also announced a price reduction for the PS5 disk drive sold separately.
