Following Sony’s announcement that the PlayStation Plus service will increase in price in 20 countries starting this week, more bad news has surfaced, with the company confirming a price hike on the PS5 console itself.
This price hike announcement may contain some good news, though I doubt it will be enough to quell people’s concerns.
PS5 Price Increase Confirmed For Europe And Other Countries
The announcement was made today, as Sony has confirmed the console price increase in Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
The price increase will start on April 14, which is «today» for these countries mentioned. Below is the updated console price list for each country.
PS5 New Price After Incease:
|
Europe |
PS5 Digital Edition – €499.99 (No pricing changes for the standard PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive) |
|
UK |
PS5 Digital Edition – £429.99 (No pricing changes for the standard PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive) |
|
Australia |
Standard PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – AUD $829.95 PS5 Digital Edition – AUD $749.95 |
|
New Zealand |
Standard PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – NZD $949.95 PS5 Digital Edition – NZD $859.95 |
The price of the PS5 Pro won’t be affected. Sony confirms.
The small bright spot in this? The disc drive for the PS5 will be getting a decrease in the same countries starting today, too.
PS5 Disc Drive Reduction New Price
|
Europe |
€79.99 |
|
UK |
£69.99 |
|
Australia |
AUD $124.95 |
|
New Zealand |
NZD $139.95 |
There is no word yet on whether North America and other parts of Asia will be getting a price increase. For those wondering why Sony is raising the price, it’s due to a «challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.»
Also, Sony mentions that «select markets in EMEA» (Europe, Middle East and Africa) not listed above may also receive price increases, and the company suggests people check with their retailers for confirmation.
While there are many things to consider when it comes to pricing, such as exchange rates, the ever-looming tariffs, and more, seeing console price increases in their lifecycle is a bit worrying. Usually, when a console has been out for a few years, the price drops to attract more people to buy it, equating to more game sales.
Now? It’s the reverse. Sony is increasing PS Plus prices and console prices, and even Nintendo is looking to hike its game prices to new heights. I have to admit, this is a bit worrying, and one I hope doesn’t have a domino effect on games and other platforms.
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