PS5 Price Increase Announced By Sony

Instead of becoming cheaper, the PlayStation 5 will soon cost more: From now on, European gamers have to pay 10 percent more for the console without a drive. It is already the second price increase since the launch – a highly unusual step.

Second price increase for PS5 Digital Edition

Sony surprisingly has a price increase for the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in Europe announced. From April 14, 2025, the console without a drive in this country costs 499.99 euros – an increase of 50 euros compared to the previous price. The standard version with an integrated Blu-ray drive, on the other hand, remains unchanged, as is the PS5 Pro.

In addition to Europe, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand are also affected by the price adjustments. According to Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, the decision was made on the basis of a “challenging economic environment”. High inflation and fluctuating exchange rates would have forced the company to take this step.

It is interesting that the United States is spared the price increase despite similar economic conditions. Some industry observers suspect that the customs situation between the USA and China could have played a role in the decision (via wccftech).

Sony’s PS5 pricing policy is unusual

This price adjustment marks an unusual trend in the history of the game consoles. While console prices traditionally drop throughout a generation to attract new buyers, Sony pursues an opposite strategy on the PS5.

It is already the second price increase since the market launch in November 2020. As early as 2022, the price in Europe was raised by 50 euros, which was also justified at the time with economic factors. Despite the official price increase, this should not have an immediate effect for many consumers.

There are often attractive (re) bundle offers in retail, in which the PS5 Digital Edition is still available for less than 400 euros. Nevertheless, with this step, Sony sets an unusual signal at a time when the console has already reached the middle of its life cycle.

Price reduction for the external drive

As a small “compensation”, Sony at the same time lowers the price for the external drive of the PS5 Digital Edition. From now on, this costs only 80 euros in Europe, which corresponds to a reduction of 40 euros. This means that the price difference between the purchase of a digital edition plus external drive and a standard PS5 with an integrated drive is only 10 euros.