Sony has announced it's increasing the price of the PS5 console in territories like Europe, the United Kingdom, Japan, China, and Canada. Jim Ryan takes to the PS Blog to say this is due to "high global inflation rates, as well as adverse currency trends, impacting consumers and creating pressure on many industries. Based on these challenging economic conditions, SIE has made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price". The USA is not affected by the price increase.

These increases are effective immediately. The cost of a PS5 system increases by:

  • Europe
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – €549.99 (+€50)
    • PS5 Digital Edition – €449.99 (+€50)
  • UK
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – £479.99 (+£30)
    • PS5 Digital Edition – £389.99 (+£30)
  • Japan (effective Sept. 15, 2022) (+5,000 yen)
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – ¥60,478 yen (including tax)
    • PS5 Digital Edition – ¥49,478 yen (including tax)
  • China (+400 yuan)
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – ¥4,299 yuan
    • PS5 Digital Edition – ¥3,499 yuan
  • Australia (+AUD $50)
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – AUD $799.95
    • PS5 Digital Edition – AUD $649.95
  • Mexico (+MXN $1,000)
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – MXN $14,999
    • PS5 Digital Edition – MXN $12,499
  • Canada (+CAD $20)
    • PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive – CAD $649.99
    • PS5 Digital Edition – CAD $519.99

"While this price increase is a necessity given the current global economic environment and its impact on SIE’s business, our top priority continues to be improving the PS5 supply situation so that as many players as possible can experience everything that PS5 offers and what’s still to come," Ryan then adds. As recently as 30th July 2022, Sony avoided questions relating to a PS5 price increase.

Hiroki Totoki said: "About a potential price increase for the PS5, at this point in time there is nothing specific I can share with you about prices." It had been thought the supply of PS5 Stock was improving over the past handful of months, but clearly not enough to where Sony feels comfortable with the money it's making off hardware sales.

Our friends over at Time Extension have put together this piece which compares the PS5 price rise to the cost trajectory of past PlayStation systems.

[source blog.playstation.com]