It’s a rough week for gamers and landlords everywhere: Sony has announced that, starting August 21, the price of every PlayStation 5 model will go up by $50. That means the PS5 Pro is jumping to $749.99, the disc edition to $549.99, and the digital edition to $499.99 or, as most players put it, “a full grocery trip.”
Sony explained the move with a straight face: “Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment.” Translation: we saw how much you’re willing to pay for Fortnite skins.
The PS5 Pro, already the most powerful console on the market, is now basically a down payment on a used Honda Civic. Sony recommends buying it today before the price hike, which is sort of like your landlord telling you to enjoy the rent while it’s still only ruinous.
The disc edition, meanwhile, remains the choice for players who still own physical media or just want a slot to shove their dusty PS4 discs into. At $549.99, it’s the perfect way to experience Blu-rays you could’ve streamed for $3.
As for the PS5 Digital Edition? It’s now a crisp $500. It’s a psychological price point designed to remind you that you’re one bad month away from canceling PS Plus and wondering what you’ve done with your life.
For those keeping track at home, this marks yet another console price increase in a generation where gamers already had to fight bots, scalpers, and occasionally other humans in Best Buy parking lots just to buy one.
And while accessories will not see a price increase, Sony was quick to note that this is only because charging $80 for a DualSense controller was already funny enough on its own.
If you’re on the fence, today may truly be your last chance to buy a PS5 at its “old” pricing. Otherwise, you’ll be adding ‘PS5 loan repayment’ right next to rent and utilities on your monthly budget spreadsheet
On the bright side, maybe this will finally encourage people to touch grass… right after they finish trying to sell it on Facebook Marketplace to cover the cost of their new PS5.