A “difficult economic environment”: Sony further increases the prices of the PS5 in the United States

It was predictable, but it is now acted: Sony increases the price of the PS5 in the United States. The official argument? A “Difficult economic environment”formula as vague as it is effective to pass the pill. The result is more concrete: +50 dollars on each model, including the new PS5 PRO. Microsoft had already shown the track last May with its Xbox, Nintendo discreetly increased the price of its old Switch… and Sony drives the nail.

Sony increases the prices of the PS5 in the United States: what should we expect here?

From August 21, therefore, all PS5 models sold in the United States see their price leaping $ 50. The standard model increases to $ 549.99, the digital version at $ 499.99, and the PS5 PRO, already the most expensive console ever left at Sony, climbs to $ 749.99. A sacred tariff climbing that may cool more than one player.

Sony assures that accessories (controller, helmets, etc.) are not affected, for the moment. But the trend is clear: the console hardware becomes a luxury product again, and promotions are likely to be rare by 2027-2028, supposed date of release of the PlayStation 6.

Officially, this increase reflects “A difficult economic environment”. In reality, several factors are at stake: persistent inflation, pressures on logistics and customs surcharge chains on products from China, Malaysia, Vietnam … and even Japan, the country of origin of Sony, struck by a 15 % tax on its exports to the United States.

For two years, consoles have been taking the elevator everywhere. Sony opened the ball with an increase of € 50 on the PS5 in 2022, then put it back in 2025 in France, By inflating only the digital version of € 50. Microsoft is not to be outdone, with an xbox series x more expensive since spring. And even Nintendo, long spared by inflation, got into it: in August 2025, the classic switch and the OLED version have Given their prices to increase from $ 30 to $ 50 across the Atlantic-a first since their release. As for the Switch 2, It arrives directly at € 449.99 in Europe. In short, that we play at Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo, one thing is certain: the increases are now the rule of the game.

Should we expect an upcoming increase in the PS5 in Europe? Nothing has yet been announced, but the American previous show that Sony no longer hesitates. And that the timing, just before the end of year celebrations, is anything but trivial.