PS5 price hike: Sony raises PS5, PS5 Pro prices by 30% globally citing pressures ahead of GTA 6

Sony has announced a global price increase for its PlayStation 5 consoles, including the PS5, PS5 Pro and the PlayStation Portal, citing continued pressure in the global economic environment.

The company said the decision was taken after careful evaluation to ensure it can continue delivering high-quality gaming experiences, acknowledging that the move will impact its user base.

By the end of next week, the cost of a Sony PlayStation will be about 30% more than it was at this time last year.


Citing “continued pressures in the global economic landscape,” the Japanese company said that as of next Thursday, the PS5 will cost $649.99 in the U.S. The price for its digital edition was also raised by $100, to $599.99. The PS5 Pro will cost $899.99, a $150 increase, AP reported.

Why are PS5 prices going up?

Though Sony did not specifically cite it as a cause, Iran's attack last week on Qatar's natural gas export facility forced it to shut down, threatening supplies of helium, a key ingredient used to produce computer chips. Qatar supplies a third of the world’s helium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Qatar’s state-owned gas company said last week the shutdown would slash helium exports by 14%. Lower supply means higher prices, especially if the war drags on for months or longer, analysts said.

The price hikes come amid turbulence in global markets, driven by US tariffs and ongoing conflicts such as the Iran and Ukraine wars. Rising costs of components, particularly memory, have also played a role, with RAM prices surging due to strong demand linked to artificial intelligence.

Sony is not alone in increasing prices. Nintendo raised the price of the original Switch in August last year, while Microsoft also increased prices of Xbox consoles, controllers and headsets in May.

The revised recommended retail prices for PS5 consoles will come into effect from April 2, 2026 across major markets:

US

PS5 – $649.99
PS5 Digital Edition – $599.99
PS5 Pro – $899.99

UK

PS5 – £569.99
PS5 Digital Edition – £519.99
PS5 Pro – £789.99

Europe

PS5 – €649.99
PS5 Digital Edition – €599.99
PS5 Pro – €899.99

Japan

PS5 – ¥97,980
PS5 Digital Edition – ¥89,980
PS5 Pro – ¥137,980

PlayStation Portal price revised

Sony has also increased the price of the PlayStation Portal remote player, with new pricing effective April 2:

US – $249.99
UK – £219.99
Europe – €249.99
Japan – ¥39,980

Pricing for other regions

For other regions, Sony has advised customers to check pricing with local retailers or through its official sales platform where available.

Sharp increases over past pricing

This marks another round of price hikes after Sony raised PS5 prices in the US in August last year, when it implemented a $50 increase across models.

With the latest revision, the standard PS5 with a disc drive and the PS5 Digital Edition are now $100 more expensive, while the PS5 Pro has seen a steeper increase of $150, taking its price to $900. The PlayStation Portal has also become costlier by $50.

The changes mean a new PS5 now starts at $600, compared to its launch price of $500 when the console debuted in November 2020.

The latest price revision comes months ahead of the expected release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is widely anticipated to drive strong demand for current-generation consoles.