Sony will raise the price of the PlayStation 5 in the United States by about $50 starting Thursday. Rising production costs and weaker demand affect the gaming market.
Sony executive Isabelle Tomatis said in a blog post that the company faces a “challenging economic environment.” All three console models will cost more. The Pro edition will now sell for $749.99.
Tariffs pressure consumer prices
The increase follows tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on multiple trade partners, including Japan. These measures raised concerns about higher expenses for US buyers. Tomatis said: “We made the difficult decision to raise the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the US starting August 21.” The base edition will now cost $499.99.
Sony confirmed accessory prices will remain unchanged and no other regions will face increases at this time.
Import taxes affect the gaming industry
US importers of Japanese goods currently pay a 15% tariff. Earlier this year, Sony raised console prices in Europe and the UK, citing inflation and currency fluctuations.
Other gaming companies also raised prices. Nintendo increased the original Switch cost, while popular titles like Mario Kart World now sell for £75, drawing criticism from players. Microsoft also raised prices for Xbox consoles and accessories in multiple countries.
Global companies react to tariffs
Several major firms warned about tariff impacts recently. US retailer Home Depot said import taxes could push prices up on some products. CFO Richard McPhail told the Wall Street Journal: “Tariff rates are far higher now than last quarter. This will cause modest price increases in some categories, though not across the board.”
In July, Adidas said tariffs would add €200 million to costs, prompting higher prices for American customers. Nike raised prices on selected shoes and clothing in May and later warned tariffs could push costs up by about $1 billion.
