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The digital-only PS5 is seeing a 25% price increase in the UK as a result of Trump’s tariffs. The changes will also affect Europe and Japan.
Those hoping to jump onto the PS5 hype this summer might be in for a nasty financial shock.
Sony has announced that it has made the ‘tough decision’ to raise the price of the digital-only PS5 to £429.99 in the UK and €499.99 in Europe, starting today. This is a direct result of Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff hikes and trade war which has impacted many countries around the world.
The PS5 is available in two versions. The first is the slightly-more expensive hard drive edition that allows the use of physical discs. This product will not increase in price.
The second is the cheaper digital edition that only gives players access to games via the PlayStation Store; this is the version that will be more expensive.
Sony cited a ‘challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates’ as the main motivator behind the decision. PS5s will also be more costly in Australia and New Zealand.
This latest price hike follows on from a turbulent few weeks for Nintendo. The Japanese developer has had to pause pre-orders on the Switch 2 in the US as a result of tariff uncertainty.
Other tech companies including Apple may also be negatively impacted by the US and its latest economic policies, as most of its products are assembled in China.
The gaming industry has been facing uncertainty in general, with costs spiralling across the board for developers and publishers. As machines become more demanding, games take longer to develop, with higher financial stakes for shareholders.
