Starting from August 22, 2025, Sony has announced a price hike of $50 for all PlayStation 5 models in the U.S. The decision has been taken in light of the increased economic burden created by the newly introduced customs tariffs, particularly those introduced first by the Trump Administration and resurrected by the present one.
The price change affects the PS5 Standard Edition, which is now priced at $549, the PS5 Digital Edition at $499, and the PS5 Pro, which has risen to $749. This is the first time Sony has increased the prices of PlayStation 5 hardware in the United States since the console debuted in 2020.
Sony noted rising operational costs and inevitable market forces as justifications for the price increase in an official statement; however, experts believe that the impact of tariffs on imported electronic parts is the primary driver of this shift. With most PS5 units being manufactured in Asia and shipped to U.S. outlets, the latter is currently being besieged with very high import duties following recent tax impositions on Chinese goods.
In earlier times, Sony countered tariff cost incidences with high inventory holdings and some supply-chain realignments, but with component prices still unsteady and global shipping costs high, the company said these were no longer practical. This change is reflective of analogous global price modifications. Due to inflation and currency softness, Sony has been upping PS5 prices over the last two years in Europe, the U.K., Australia, and parts of Asia. The U.S. market is now seeing similar changes as Trump tariffs create domestic pressure.
Competitors have also acted similarly: Microsoft earlier this year changed the price of the Switch and its accessories; Nintendo later raised prices for its Xbox Series X and Game Pass subscription. The price increase has caused worry among both game creators and players. Just before major holiday releases, some are concerned that the increased hardware expenses will impede adoption rates.
