Sony will raise the price of the PlayStation 5 in the United States by about $50 starting Thursday. The Japanese tech giant faces higher production costs and a slowing gaming market.
Sony executive Isabelle Tomatis said in a blog post that the company is navigating a “challenging economic environment.” All three console models will see price hikes. The Pro version will now sell for $749.99.
Tariffs put pressure on prices
The price rise follows tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump on multiple trade partners, including Japan. These measures have raised concerns about higher costs for American consumers. Tomatis stated: “We made the difficult decision to raise the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the US starting August 21.” The standard edition will now cost $499.99.
Sony confirmed that accessory prices will remain unchanged and no further price increases are planned for other countries.
Import taxes challenge the gaming industry
US importers of Japanese goods currently face a 15% tariff. Earlier this year, Sony raised console prices in the UK and Europe, citing inflation and currency fluctuations.
Other gaming companies also increased prices. Nintendo raised the original Switch price, and popular games like Mario Kart World now sell for £75. Microsoft raised prices for Xbox consoles and accessories in several regions.
Major companies respond to tariffs
Global corporations have warned about the impact of tariffs. US retailer Home Depot said import taxes could push up prices on some items. CFO Richard McPhail told the Wall Street Journal: “Tariff rates are far higher now than last quarter. This will cause modest increases in some categories, though not across the board.”
In July, Adidas said tariffs would add €200 million to costs, leading to higher prices for US customers. Nike raised prices on select shoes and clothing in May and later warned tariffs could increase costs by roughly $1 billion.
