The PlayStation 5 has become a more expensive purchase since its original launch in 2020, making it harder for some players to justify upgrading to Sony’s current-generation console. Now, though, the company has announced a new PS5 model that comes at a comparatively lower price than most standard versions, with it set to release on November 19 (the same day as Grand Theft Auto 6).
Although the PS5 has built up an extensive library of games, its rising price due to issues caused by Generative AI has created yet another barrier for anyone who has yet to buy one. It only seems to be getting worse, and it’s expected that the PlayStation 6 will cost $1000+ if released in Holiday 2027, as expected. In other words, anyone who can lock in a cheaper PS5 console absolutely should.
New Midnight Black PS5 Digital Edition on Sale for $349 (Pre-Orders Available Now)
Pre-orders for Sony’s new Midnight Black PS5 Digital Edition are now open in Japan, with the console priced at 55,000 yen, or approximately $349 USD (a standard digital PS5 in the US is $600). Announced on October 13, the new PlayStation 5 model is scheduled to launch on November 19, bringing a Midnight Black finish to Sony’s Japan-only digital console. The price is 42,980 yen less than the standard PS5’s listed Japanese price, meaning it’s effectively a steal and unfortunately not yet slated (if ever) for the United States. Pre-orders are available through participating Japanese PlayStation retailers and online stores.
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The new PS5 Digital Edition retains the console’s core features, including its 825GB SSD, 3D audio, PS4 backward compatibility, and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. However, buyers should understand that this is not a cheaper PS5 intended for international markets. The console is restricted to Japanese-language system settings and requires a PlayStation account registered to Japan, meaning players in the United States cannot simply import one and use it as a regular replacement for their local PS5.
As with other digital PS5 consoles, the Midnight Black model does not include a disc drive, so games must generally be purchased digitally through the PlayStation Store. Sony will also release a matching Midnight Black disc drive on November 19, allowing buyers to add support for physical games separately. Of course, this comes with a warning that PlayStation is still committed to discontinuing discs in January 2028, but buying this disc drive would still be cheaper than the standard PS5 price.
For now, the Midnight Black PS5 Digital Edition gives Japanese players another way to buy Sony’s current-generation console without paying the price of the standard model. Players in the United States will have to wait for Sony to announce a comparable alternative if they want a similarly priced console.
Source: PlayStation Japan