(CNN Spanish) — Sony ad an increase in prices of PlayStation5 (PS5) consoles in various countries in Europe, Latin America, Canada, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific arguing that it is due to “high rates of global inflation, as well as adverse trends in different currencies, impacting consumers and creating pressure in many industries.
The price increase will not affect the United States, while in some countries such as Spain it will mean a rise of around 10% of its value when the price increases by 50 euros (US$ 50). In Mexico it will go up regarding 1,000 pesos (US$ 50).
The official statement issued by the president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Jim Ryan, points out that the price increase is a “necessity” due to the impact it has on Sony Interactive Entertainment’s business as well as affirming that the “top priority” of the company is “improving the PS5 supply situation so that as many gamers as possible can experience all that PS5 has to offer and what’s to come.”
The supply of consoles has been one of the great problems that manufacturers of new generation consoles have experienced, such as Sony with its PlayStation 5 or Microsoft with its Xbox Series X and S. The origin lies in “the shortage of chips, the logistical problems and bots that exploit the imbalance between supply and demand,” as explained by Alla Valentea Forrester technology analyst, told CNN Business in December 2021.
This caused that being able to access a new generation console became a complicated task due to the little supply that there is and, also, that there is great speculation in the second-hand market. In Spain, for example, as of August 25, 2022, PlayStation models can be found on websites such as Ebay with prices around 800 (US$797) and 1,000 euros (US$996), when the new official recommended price of sale, counting the new increase, is 549 euros (US$ 547).
This will be the new sale price of PlayStation 5 consoles by country and region
Europa
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – €549.99 ($547)
- PS5 Digital Edition – €449.99 ($448)
United Kingdom
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – £479.99 ($566)
- PS5 Digital Edition – £389.99 ($460)
Japan (as of September 15, 2022)
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – ¥60,478 yen ($442)
- PS5 Digital Edition – ¥49,478 yen ($361)
China
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – ¥4,299 yuan ($627)
- PS5 Digital Edition – ¥3,499 yuan (US$510)
Australia
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – AUD$799.95 (US$556)
- PS5 Digital Edition – AUD $649.95 (US$452)
Mexico
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – MXN $14,999 (US$ 753)
- PS5 Digital Edition – MXN $12,499 (US$628)
Canada
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Reader – CAD $649.99 ($502)
- PS5 Digital Edition – CAD $519.99 ($401)
Although they do not mention all countries, Sony pointed out that other markets in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific might also be affected by the price increases and recommend checking with local distributors.
