Sony has officially announced a price increase that will soon hit the PlayStation 5 family of consoles. The PS5 was originally released on November 12, 2020, with a disc-based model priced at $499.99, and a less expensive, digital-only version available for $399.99.
The PlayStation 5 has been a cornerstone of gaming since its release, with Sony continuing to iterate on the console’s design and functionality over time. In November 2023, three years after the console’s release, Slim versions of both the digital and base PS5 models were released, effectively replacing the original design of the console. The same month saw the release of the PlayStation Portal, a handheld device that allows players to utilize their PS5’s remote play options to enjoy their games through an official portable Sony product. One year later, in November 2024, Sony released the more powerful PS5 Pro, which includes support for enhanced graphical options and a slight redesign.
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Sony Confirms PlayStation 5 Consoles and PlayStation Portal Will Be More Expensive Soon
Sony has officially confirmed a price increase for the PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal family of consoles, effective April 2, 2026. Sony cites “continued pressures in the global economic landscape” as the reason for the increase, which sees an increase across all versions of the PlayStation 5 console and a new “recommended retail price” for the PlayStation Portal.
U.S.
- PS5 – $649.99
- PS5 Digital Edition – $599.99
- PS5 Pro – $899.99
U.K.
- PS5 – £569.99
- PS5 Digital Edition – £519.99
- PS5 Pro – £789.99
Europe
- PS5 – €649.99
- PS5 Digital Edition – €599.99
- PS5 Pro – €899.99
Japan
- PS5 – ¥97,980
- PS5 Digital Edition – ¥89,980
- PS5 Pro – ¥137,980
PlayStation Portal
- U.S. – $249.99
- U.K. – £219.99
- Europe – €249.99
- Japan – ¥39,980
The move marks a drastic increase in cost for the consoles, with the price of the PS5’s Digital Edition rising by $200 from its launch price. The more expensive PS5 Pro will also see a $200 jump from its original $699.99 price, making the premium product even more costly. The price of the base PS5 model, which includes the console’s disc drive, is increasing by $150, as is the cost of the PlayStation Portal, which was initially released at $199.99.
The price increase is an unfamiliar situation for console gaming fans, who are used to seeing hardware costs decrease after being released. Despite the unprecedented nature of the price jump, many industry analysts have long predicted such a move, with elements such as the increasing cost of RAM impacting console production. Analysts predict that the RAM pricing situation could even delay the next generation of consoles. Continuous negotiations regarding tariffs among multiple countries around the world may have contributed to Sony’s decision as well.
The PlayStation 5 has been a widespread success since its release, with Sony’s console regularly outselling its competition. Despite the pace of PS5 sales making it Sony’s most successful console generation to date, the market for such consoles is changing rapidly based on other factors. Fans who are used to waiting for a price drop before investing in new hardware will be disappointed to learn that the industry appears to be moving rapidly in the opposite direction. Rushing to purchase the latest piece of gaming hardware may go against traditional wisdom regarding electronics, but the decision to increase console costs after more than five years is a clear indicator that times have changed.
