Sony announced Wednesday it will raise PlayStation 5 console prices in the United States by $50, citing ongoing economic challenges and the financial strain caused by recent U.S. tariffs on electronics imported from China. The move affects all versions of the console and goes into effect August 21, with the standard PlayStation 5 retailing at $549.99, the Digital Edition at $499.99, and the PS5 Pro at $749.99. Accessories and game prices remain unchanged, according to Sony’s press release.
“Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment,” Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of global marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, wrote in the Wednesday presser. “As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S.”
The decision comes as the U.S. government, under President Trump, imposed new tariffs on products from key manufacturing countries, notably China, Japan, and Vietnam. Current tariff rates have reached their highest levels in decades, driving up consumer prices across commodities, with electronics and gaming hardware being particularly affected. Data from The Budget Lab at Yale University shows overall consumer prices rising by 1.8% in the short term due to tariffs, and analysts warn that hardware manufacturers are passing on these additional costs to consumers. And while Trump initially insisted U.S. companies “eat” the tariff-related costs, Amazon and Walmart have already begun raising prices on their products, like many others. How all of this will affect inflation in the months ahead is still a mystery.
Tariffs hit the gaming world
Sony is not alone in its response to the tariffs. Microsoft raised U.S. prices for its Xbox Series X and S consoles earlier this year, and Nintendo enacted multiple accessory and console price increases at the beginning of the month, including its original Switch and new Switch 2 consoles. These adjustments underscore a broader trend in the gaming industry, with manufacturers citing higher production costs and economic pressure from tariffs that threaten profit margins and growth.
Sony also noted that price hikes are not confined to the U.S. This latest adjustment follows similar increases in other countries earlier in 2025, such as the UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin American markets, where both console and PlayStation Plus subscription prices rose between 8% and 21%. Sony executives attributed these changes to global inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, as well as trade tensions whose impact is felt worldwide.
The latest price increase signals what’s to come for U.S. consumers, who are likely to increasingly encounter higher costs for electronics and entertainment products as global trade continues to shift.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
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