Significant price increase for all PS5 products

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) officially announced that it will increase global prices for the entire PlayStation 5 (PS5) lineup from April 2, 2026. The company explained the reason for the increase as “pressure from the ongoing global economic environment.”

“This was a necessary measure to continue providing innovative and high-quality gaming experiences to players around the world,” SIE Vice President Isabelle Tomatis said on the official blog.

New pricing structure by region

The increase ranges from $100 to $150 depending on the model. In the United States, the PS5 basic model will increase by $100 from $549.99 to $649.99, and the digital edition will increase by $100 from $499.99 to $599.99. PS5 Pro will increase by $150 from $749.99 to $899.99. PS Portal, a portable device, will also increase by $50 from $199.99 to $249.99.

Similar increases apply in Europe and the UK. In the UK, the PS5 base model will rise from £479.99 to £569.99, and the PS5 Pro will rise from £699.99 to £789.99. In Japan, the PS5 base model will increase from 79,980 yen to 97,980 yen, and the PS5 Pro will increase from 119,980 yen to 137,980 yen. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether the digital edition, which is sold for 55,000 yen exclusively in Japan, will increase.

Memory crisis pressuring the console industry

This price increase is a further measure following Sony raising the price of PS5 in Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand in April last year. At the time, the price of PS5 Pro was frozen, but this time, the entire lineup was included in the increase.

In the industry, the ongoing global memory shortage is analyzed as a key factor in this decision. According to related reports, Sony is reportedly considering delaying the release of its next-generation console, PS6, to 2028 or 2029 due to memory supply and demand issues. This could be a significant setback to Sony's strategy of maintaining user engagement across hardware generations.

According to Sony's latest performance report, PS5 shipments in the 2024 holiday season amounted to 8 million units, a 15.7% decrease compared to the same period last year (9.5 million units).

Competitors also face a memory crisis

The memory component crisis is not just Sony's problem. Valve has delayed the release of its next-generation Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and new Steam Controller, and is also affected by inventory of the Steam Deck OLED.

Nintendo has not yet raised the price of the console, but is not ruling out the possibility. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said, “If the rise in memory prices continues longer than expected, it may affect hardware profitability,” and added, “We will review response plans by comprehensively considering various factors such as the installed base, sales trends, and market environment.” Nintendo is adjusting Switch 2 production after poor sales during the holiday season, and also announced a new pricing policy in the U.S. that makes digital versions of games cheaper than physical versions.