Anabelle Colaco
25 Aug 2025, 09:15 GMT+10
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Sony increased the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S. by about US$50 from August 21, citing tariff uncertainty and rising costs as the video game industry navigates a slow recovery.
The Japanese electronics giant announced the changes in a blog post on August 20. All three PS5 models will be affected, with the top-end PS5 Pro now priced at $749.99.
The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on imports from countries including Japan and China, which have sparked fears of supply chain disruptions and higher material costs for electronics manufacturers.
Sony raised console prices in several European markets in April. A month later, Microsoft followed suit, increasing prices for its Xbox consoles and accessories in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and the UK.
Industry analysts had expected 2025 to be a strong year for gaming hardware sales, supported by blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto VI from Take-Two Interactive and Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2. But with Sony's latest hike and the delay of GTA VI to next year, optimism about the industry's growth trajectory has dimmed.
The PlayStation 5, first launched in late 2020, has been a key driver of Sony's gaming revenue, though demand has cooled following initial pandemic-era shortages. Analysts say higher price tags could further dampen sales just as new premium games were expected to spark renewed console buying.
Sony stressed that the changes apply only to U.S. consoles. Prices in other global markets, as well as accessories for the PS5, remain unchanged.
Get a daily dose of Northern Ireland News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Northern Ireland News.
More InformationDALLAS, Texas: Southwest Airlines is tightening its rules for plus-size passengers, introducing a new requirement that travelers who...
WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: U.S. tariffs on Indian imports doubled to as much as 50 percent on August 27, intensifying a trade clash between...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell Friday despite the latest PCE price index showing inflation is under control.. Core inflation...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Health insurance is set to get more expensive in 2026, with higher premiums and shrinking coverage likely across...
PARONG, India: India fears a massive new Chinese hydropower dam in Tibet could cut water flows on the Brahmaputra River by as much...
SINGAPORE: Currency markets have turned turbulent since U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was removing Federal Reserve Governor...
In a move decried as a violation of international agreements and a severe blow to diplomatic efforts, the United States has systematically...
SYDNEY, Australia - Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson has sharply criticized the Australian Labor government's...
MAJURO, Marshall Islands: A devastating fire has destroyed the national parliament of the Marshall Islands, officials from the fire...
SEOUL, South Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the launch of two newly developed anti-air missiles, state media reported,...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: France has summoned the U.S. ambassador to Paris, Charles Kushner, after he accused the French government of not...
SYDNEY, Australia: Australia has accused Iran of carrying out two antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, and on August...
