Sony announced a $50 price increase for all PlayStation 5 console models sold in the United States, effective August 21, 2025. This marks the first US price hike for the popular gaming system since its 2020 launch.
The new recommended retail prices are $549.99 for the standard PlayStation 5 with disc drive (up from $499.99), $499.99 for the Digital Edition (up from $449.99), and $749.99 for the high-performance PS5 Pro (up from $699.99).
“Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment,” said Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, in the company’s announcement. “As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S.”
Sony confirmed that accessory prices, including controllers and charging stations, will remain unchanged. The price adjustment affects only US customers, with no additional increases planned for other markets at this time.
The decision comes amid recent economic pressures, including a 15% tariff imposed by the US on Japanese imports that went into effect in July. While Sony didn’t directly blame the tariffs in its announcement, the timing aligns with broader industry responses to these trade measures.
Sony isn’t alone in adjusting prices. Microsoft raised Xbox console prices in May 2025, while Nintendo increased pricing for its original Switch console and accessories earlier this month. This suggests a market-wide response to similar economic pressures affecting the gaming hardware industry.
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For American gamers, this price increase represents a significant shift. Historically, console prices typically decrease over a product’s lifecycle, not increase. The PS5 has already sold more than 80 million units worldwide since its 2020 debut, demonstrating strong consumer demand despite its nearly five-year market presence.
Sony had previously raised PS5 prices in other regions including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK earlier in 2025, citing inflation and currency challenges. The US market had been spared until now.
Industry analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities noted that companies throughout the electronics sector are spreading tariff impacts across their product lines, as many console components are sourced from global suppliers.
Sony recently disclosed it’s working to diversify its supply chain to minimize the impact of US tariffs. During an earnings call earlier this month, company officials stated that PlayStation hardware sold in the US is produced outside of China, though the global nature of electronics manufacturing means tariffs still affect overall costs.
For consumers considering a PS5 purchase, the price increase represents a $50 premium on hardware that’s approaching the middle of its lifecycle. With major game releases like GTA 6 on the horizon, Sony likely expects demand to remain strong despite the higher price points.
