Sony’s opted to increase the price you’ll have to pay to net a PS5 in certain areas for the world for the second time in the console’s lifespan. This time, the reasoning’s the same, but it’s mainly the disc drives-less digital version of the console getting bumped up.
Plus, unlike the last PS5 price hike back in 2022, there is a bit of a silver lining in the form of one bit of hardware for the console actually coming down in price. I know, something in 2025 actually getting cheaper. Ignore the fact it’s coming alongside a more important bit of your setup getting more expensive for a second and let the good times roll!
As announced by SIE’s vice president of global marketing Isabelle Tomatis in a PlayStation Blog post, the recommended retail price for certain versions of the PS5 in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand has gone up effective today, April 14. “A challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates”, was given as the reason for the bump.
In the UK and Europe, it’s just the digital edition of the console affected – with its price having gone up from £389.99 to £429.99 and €449.99 to €499.99. That’s an increase of £40 and €50 respectively, so certainly one that you’ll feel at the checkout. At least that’s it in terms of the hikes in those regions, with neither the standard PS5 that comes with a disc drive and the PS5 Pro having been spared from any price changes, at least for now.
The other two countries affected, Australia and New Zealand, aren’t quite as lucking in that regard, with both the standard and digital PS5 getting more expensive down under. $829.95 for a standard one and $749.95 for a digital one is what the Aussies will now be paying, while New Zealanders will have to cough up $949.95 (standard) or $859.95 (digital).
There is one slight silver lining coming with this bad news for would-be PS5 buyers, though. The price of the standalone PS5 disc drive having gone down to €79.99, £69.99, $124.95 (AUS), and $139.95 (NZL) across these four regions. So, that’s something at least.
There’s no news of a US price increase here, but analysts certainly aren’t ruling out one potentially coming to pass soon, amid all the Trump tariff nonsense. “I would be very surprised if Sony was able to keep the PlayStation prices in the US stable,” Dr Serkan Toto of Japanese games consultancy Kantan Games has told CNBC, adding: “So yes, I expect Sony to raise prices in the U.S. eventually, once it’s at least a bit more clear where exactly tariffs are headed.”
How do you feel about these PS5 price bumps? Let us know below.
