Sony raises PS5 prices by up to $150 citing 'pressures' in economy
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- Sony announced a second price increase for its PlayStation 5 consoles within a year, citing global economic pressures, with prices in the U.S. rising by $100 to $150 depending on the model, effective April 2.
- The PS5 disc edition will rise to $649.99, the digital edition to $599.99, and the PS5 Pro to $899.99, while similar hikes are planned for Japan, the U.K., and Europe.
- The price hikes are driven primarily by a significant surge in memory prices, a key PS5 component, due to high demand from AI data centers and limited supply.
- Industry experts suggest these increases are necessary to protect Sony’s hardware margins and predict that Microsoft and Nintendo may also raise prices in the near future.
- Sony plans to offset higher component costs by focusing on monetizing its existing PS5 user base through software and network services, while geopolitical tensions could further exacerbate inflation pressures.
