Playstation users furious as Sony reveal major PS5 price hike five years after launch
Playstation users are furious after Sony revealed that there will be a major PlayStation 5 price hike.
This price increase comes five years after the console was first launched.
Sony shared the news that its PS5 will go up in price by a whopping 25% as the video game industry is hit with the effects of new import tariffs.
President Donald Trump announced a series of tariffs he was imposing on other countries earlier this month.
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In a blog post, Sony wrote: “With a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, SIE has made the tough decision to raise the recommended retail price (RRP) of the PlayStation 5 console in select markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Australia and New Zealand.”
From today (April 14), a PS5 digital edition will cost €499.99 ($567) in Europe, £429.99 in the UK, AUD$749.95 in Australia and NZ$859.95 in New Zealand.
This has sparked outrage from gamers, with many taking to social media to share their reactions to the news.
On Reddit, one user wrote: “Remember when console prices used to go down and not up?”
Another said: “It’s insane that I got the console on December 2021 for less than what it costs now.”
And a third person commented: “Seems like we’re all subsidising US consumers, they have the tariffs but their pricing stays the same.”
This sparked a reply from another user who explained: “It's hard to establish a new price when the tariffs change daily.
“Meanwhile inflation is happening globally and this isn't the first time PlayStation raised prices in Europe, and those predate tariffs. Makes more sense to assume it's the thing that's happened before instead of the thing that's only been around for ~2 weeks and changed on a daily basis.”
Over on the blog post by Sony, many users took to the comment section to voice their opinions.
One person said: “Welcome to the generation where everyone’s consoles just keep going up in price instead of going down”
Another wrote: “The first generation where being a day 1 owner got you the cheapest priced console lol.”
And a third person added: “I'm speaking as a lifelong playstation fan and have my own anniversary edition PS5. Why are your international fans and loyal customers constantly punished for the stupidity of one nation's President and their reckless actions? If this is how you decide to ruin any goodwill you have left with your player base, then don't cry over the consequences. It’s decisions like this which pushes people to other competitors' consoles or PC.”