Sony announced Wednesday that it will raise the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles in the United States by $50, citing economic headwinds and the added burden of new U.S. tariffs on electronics imported from China. The new pricing takes effect August 21, 2025.
New PS5 pricing in US
The updated retail prices are as follows:
PlayStation 5 Standard Edition: $549.99 (up from $499.99)
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition: $499.99 (up from $449.99)
PlayStation 5 Pro: $749.99 (up from $699.99)
Sony confirmed that PS5 accessories and game titles will remain at their current prices.
Isabelle Tomatis, vice president of global marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in a statement:
“Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment. As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S.”
Tariffs put pressure on gaming hardware
The decision follows the Trump administration’s sweeping new tariffs on imports from China, Japan, and Vietnam, which have pushed U.S. tariff rates to their highest levels in decades. Electronics and gaming hardware have been among the hardest hit.
According to data from the Yale University Budget Lab, tariffs have already driven consumer prices up by 1.8% in the short term. Analysts say companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are now passing costs directly to consumers despite initial White House pressure for firms to absorb them.
Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers have also begun adjusting prices upward across product categories.
Industry-wide price hikes
Sony is not the only gaming giant raising prices. Microsoft increased prices for its Xbox Series X and S consoles earlier this year, while Nintendo raised costs for both its original Switch and the new Switch 2 consoles at the start of the month.
The latest PlayStation 5 price increase also follows similar hikes in global markets, including Europe, the U.K., Australia, and Latin America, where both console and PlayStation Plus subscription costs rose by 8% to 21% earlier this year.
Outlook for the gaming market
The higher prices arrive at a sensitive time for the gaming industry. 2025 was expected to be a breakout year for console sales, driven by blockbuster titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI from Take-Two Interactive and Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch. However, GTA VI’s delay into next year and rising console costs have raised doubts about whether growth expectations can still be met.
For U.S. consumers, the PS5 hike may be a sign of broader cost increases in electronics and entertainment products as global trade tensions and inflationary pressures persist.
