The PS5 has built up an extensive library of games since launching in 2020, but the price has also risen dramatically for most consumers. For players who have yet to upgrade to a PS5 or a PS5 Pro, though, getting into the current generation can still be incredibly expensive. Sony has released different versions of the PlayStation 5 over the years, giving buyers some flexibility in how they purchase the hardware, and another console option could make the platform more accessible to a different group of players.
The cost of gaming hardware has become an increasingly important consideration, especially as PS5 prices have risen in several markets since the console first launched. Those increases make it harder for some players to justify buying a new system, even as the PS5 library continues to expand. A standard PS5 in Japan, for example, costs 97,980 Yen (or $619), while prices vary from $500-$800 in the United States (including refurbished models). A cheaper console could help address that barrier, but availability, hardware differences, and regional restrictions all matter when determining whether a new model is actually a more affordable option for players.
PS5 Midnight Black Digital-Only Console Comes at a Cheaper Cost for Some Consumers
PlayStation has now officially revealed a new, cheaper digital-only PS5 console, but players in the United States should not expect to find it at their local retailers. Announced on October 13, the PS5 Digital Edition Japan-only Midnight Black model will launch in Japan on November 19 for 55,000 yen (or roughly $349). The new version combines the lower-priced digital console with a Midnight Black design, but it comes with restrictions that prevent it from serving as a straightforward cheaper alternative for players elsewhere.
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The new PS5 is a digital-only system that is region-locked to Japan, meaning those outside the country will not have this option, with no expectation that it will come to other countries. It will include 825GB of SSD storage and other core PS5 features, including its high-speed SSD, 3D audio, PS4 backward compatibility, and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Sony will also release a matching Midnight Black disc drive on November 19 for 11,980 yen, giving Japanese buyers the option to add disc-based functionality separately. Pre-orders for the console are scheduled to begin on October 20 through participating Japanese retailers and online stores.
It’s worth noting that, from an aesthetic standpoint, there’s no midnight black PS5 console available in the United States (cost or otherwise). It is possible to pick up a Midnight Black PS5 console cover and apply it to a PS5 for an additional cost, and in doing so, it’s basically the same thing as this PS5 console minus the discounted price and requirements.
The biggest catch, which bears repeating, is that the new PS5 model requires the system language to be set to Japanese and a PlayStation account registered in Japan. Those restrictions make it a region-specific option instead of a new budget console for the global market. For now, the new Midnight Black PS5 gives Japanese players another way to buy into the current generation at a lower price, but Sony has not announced a comparable model for the United States.
Source: PlayStation Japan
