Sony Announces Major PS5 Price Hikes, Here's How They Compare To Xbox Series X|S

My £450 XSX was a bargain.

If Sony is doing it then MS probably will, but it's a hell of a marketing boon if they don't and Asha Sharma starts a campaign about them being cheaper...

Console prices keep rising. By the time the next generation starts the high end console offerings of the generation will be $900-$1,000 USD (PS5 Pro already there).

A lot of people will not go for these prices. Therefore a lower end reasonably priced console in the $400-500 USD price range will become an important offering. I would expect XB to keep the strategy in place of Series S and X to give those lower price points.

Don’t forget that the PS5 Pro does not even have a disc drive!
If you want one extra, that will cost roughly another £150.

Bumping the total cost up to almost £1000.

I wouldn’t say that Series S is much of a bargain, not for what you’re getting. Weak tech, no support for physical media, inferior versions of nearly every game, possible ad and ai integration being forced down the road (that could be true of all platforms, but let’s be honest: of the 3 main platforms, this is far and away the one most likely to have it shoehorned in). If you’re looking at things from a purely monetary standpoint, ok, but not when you factor in everything you’re losing/missing out on.

Ridiculous increase by Sony. They sell enough to absorb at least part of that - especially as they were reported to be making a profit on each console a while back.

But honestly I expected helix to be £999 now I’m thinking it may be £1200.

Gaming is fast becoming unaffordable for many.

@themightyant it's £70 now?! I think I paid £50 for mine last year.
World is crazy now

@Balaam_ The series s will never be for someone like yourself that much is crystal clear and has been for some time your definitely not the audience for it no doubt about that but it's still a good deal though

It was always going to happen & it was just a question of how long Sony would wait.

This hobby is getting to a point where I feel the prices are becoming a concern to me with regard to next gen systems (Helix & PS6.) Nothing I can do but wait & see of course but yeah not good for any consumers.

It's not normally nice to gloat but this is extremely funny especially considering Microsoft was crucified for doing similar things last year ie sackings and price increases.
Just my take on it.

Chaotic wars, huge arbitrary taxes (tariffs), unregulated AI industry.

@RiverGenie They will price there customers out of buying the systems if it keeps up like this!
Eventually most won't care what bells and whistles next gen will have because it simply won't be worth the price better to stick with what you have currently and wait for a price drop if that's even possible in the modern world!

gamers want the ps5 ...

It doesn't matter to me, the PS4 was my last PlayStation, and I don't think I'll ever feel the need to get another one.

When the bargain is £50 more than it was 6 years ago, that tells you everyone is in a rough spot, no matter where you play

@Globo You better not gloat on it as MS might just increase prices again for all that’s worth.

I don’t see the “funny” at all here, it’s not like because Sony increased prices now it’s fine Xbox did so as well, they’ll both get deservedly crucified for it as they’re pricing out people from gaming, it’s such a grim outlook for both brands and I’m feeling Nintendo is next with a Switch 2 price bump.

I thought that 90 million consoles was supposed to stop these price gouges, studio closures, ect?

Project Helix is the one and only console I plan on buying next gen. A console/pc hybrid with xbox and steam/epic ect game stores along with play anywhere, crossbuy, game pass ect?

Yeah,
I'll stick with xbox.

@IOI I already have my series s and x and it's very funny to me personally wrong or right that's my feelings on it.
Like I said Microsoft where crucified for doing the same things and the level of gloating about that was legendary!
Xbox is getting positive headlines lately and Sony drop a clanger like this as a big Xbox fan why wouldn't i find this at least a bit funny considering the massive hate Xbox has gotten over the last year for doing the same.
I have nothing against playstation it's an amazing console with amazing games but I'd be a liar if I said I didn't have a good chuckle when I seen this today.
It is what it is all these companies are greedy not just Microsoft and here's the proof despite it's massive success Sony still has to make the same decisions as Microsoft had to make last year.

I'm extremely happy with my Series S.

@Coletrain it's worth noting last time Xbox raised their prices Sony didn't, so this might be that one adjusted for the present problems.

But we must never underestimate MS' ability to find a rake to step on

Will this affect Sony's sales? Probably not, especially with GTA VI on the horizon.

Unfortunately this means the PS6 will not be any cheaper than $899 when it launches more than likely. I have zero interest in project Helix after the way Microsoft handled the Series S/X generation, so much so that my launch day Series X will be the last Xbox I own.

Uff the s will be the cheapest way to play GTA but just think of those buying either an xbox or playstation for GTA 6 and how they won't buy a next gen console when they come out because it will be too soon 😂

@Tdx yeah the simple anaswer most seem to want to deny or ignore

@Coletrain Xbox had already increased the price of its consoles before Sony. I’d be surprised if they did it again.

In any case, the PS5 Pro at $899 is huge, especially for gains that are often minimal — when there are any at all. It’s €300 more expensive than a Series X…

I don’t even want to imagine the price of the next consoles.

@Globo You're absolutely right. I remember they using the price of the Galaxy Black Special Edition as the one for comparisons, when it's a limited edition. Until now, PS5 had the better deals in USA, which was unfair because the last tariffs were also related to that region, but PS is more popular in Europe, so they made us pay more. Now, it's more expensive in all regions and the hike is significant. When it was Xbox, they blamed Xbox, but now it's the politics and we all gamers are affected and it's sad for everyone...

I don't think that Microsoft will raise their prices. I even thought that Asha was tempted to lower them, but now they'll stay like this. It could be their chance to sell more Series consoles, if they make them available, of course. They are sold out in many markets.

I, for one, appreciate your lack of hypocrisy and being straightforward and honest.

Setting the stage for the ps6 to be a cool $1000 (or more).

@Globo Yeah on that I do remember how many fanboys were celebrating Xbox’ demise just last year and so far this year has been as brutal for PlayStation, 2 studios closed, more games getting cancelled and a severe price hike in less than a couple of months, you can bet they’re not gloating now, which is why I wouldn’t gloat about this, things for both can always get worse.

But as a console fan, owner of a Series X, PS5 Pro and Switch 2 I’m very worried for the sustainability of this whole market, it really feels we’re already living through a crash and it’s bound to get worse, they’re pricing out younger generations from gaming altogether and the industry cannot be sustained by the same players with no growth, next generation will look absurd with a $999 PS6 and a $1299 Xbox (being optimistic).

Jeez. Some of you on here really need to grow up. Gloating and laughing and making a console war out of ordinary gamers having to pay more money, including people gaming on your own preferred platform. It's just sad.

@abe_hikura agreed. Whilst it doesn't make sense to me that they would need to again, it's well within their usual wheelhouse!

@fatpunkslim as above. And agreed, these new ps5 prices are quite frankly insane. Especially in the UK where we've been pretty sheltered from the extreme prices rises on Xboxes

@IOI Yeah that would have to be a massive worry for any gamer nowadays because the pricing of next gen is going to be astronomical that's just becoming a fact by price increases like this.
Next gen probably won't sell well at all compared to this gen if the pricing doesn't improve because for a lot of people looking to upgrading to next gen it won't be worth the price of admission unfortunately.

It doesn't matter though because anyone will lap it up for GTA 6. I know plenty that are willing to do just that and maybe FIFA as a secondary game. Afterwards, the console will than get turned on once in a blue moon due to life.

@IOI funnily enough everything I’ve seen is slating Sony, exactly like ms got at the time and what both deserved. Neither are our friends!

@BattleMonkey It's interesting because GTA VI is supposedly launching one year before Helix, but it's a game that keeps selling constantly, if we use V as reference. Series S will be the cheapest platform to play it on, but Helix would be the most powerful console one year later, so they have different targets covered: the casual that wants to pay little and the dedicated gamer that wants the most powerful platform.

@abe_hikura

But we must never underestimate MS' ability to find a rake to step on.

Perhaps, Asha is the common sense they needed? I hope so.

@Globo Because this is the first generation when consoles get more expensive, I don't know if the next-gen consoles will be seen as a better deal comparatively. We'll see. What you guys think?

@Balaam_ its a bargain for budget gamers, casual gamers, and parents who have younger children who are too young enough to care about the tech.

@Banjo- Thanks dude and yeah you are right now there's a thousand reasons why they had to do it but it is what it is.
I'm not swinging from the lights with joy about all this but it's definitely a tad ironic after everything last year with Xbox.
Sure GTA is coming out soon and should sell systems for both Xbox and playstation Microsoft should let it be known Xbox is the cheapest way to get the game with a console.
If a price drop came aswell between now and when the game releases that would only help sales better than them just gathering dust in some warehouse.

@Globo indeed. Stein on X just reminded all of us that Series S is the best value in gaming. Cheapest way to jump onto GTA VI this gen by a WIDE margin. For most who don't care about cutting edge graphics and just wanna play GTA, series S will be the cheapest way to do that.

@Kiltedhaggis Firstly I completely agree with you. Turning any price increases as an opportunity to bash the other side and revive a console war is indeed sad.

However, I wouldn't get too het up at this thread. I haven't seen any gloating or laughing. Not yet anyway.

Gaming is becoming rather expensive. But to give another take. The smartphone and tablet market, laptop market and indeed PC (if you want a gaming one anyway) are subject to and have been affected by, economic shocks.

I don't think ( as I read on the other site) gaming is headed for another crash like we saw in the 80's. But rather tech in general is just going to continue to get really expensive and become a luxury Vs a hobby which is really sad.

@Jaxx420 There is further up. He had a good chuckle at it.

@J_Mo_Money The series s is a great machine people go overboard with any drawbacks the console has it's an easy target also tech dudes like digital foundry just dismiss it despite loving the switch 2.
In practice it performs well and plays every single game the series x does!

@Jaxx420 that's why i prefer the aspect of play anywhere, cloud gaming, ect. People might not like it but with the way younger gamers are growing up and the rising prices, having more places available to access your games at a cheaper price just makes sense.

@Kiltedhaggis I saw they used the word gloat but I wouldnt take it that way they had a fair point. I have seen a lot worse.

@Jaxx420 I do think we will see a gaming crash, or at least a Triple A crash.

The economics of volume are going to collapse if the cost of entry limits how many can even get a console or powerful PC as people move away from gaming be it due to life responsibilities or loss of interest. Without that volume, the budgets for these Triple A games just wont work anymore.

Casual, indie (and Nintendo) games that can either run on cheap PCs or be made at low enough budget to be profitable with a few thousand copies sold might be able to keep the market alive, though.

Also keep in mind this is all happening at the same time that we are facing a huge recessions (we likely are in one but that's a whole other topic) that will likely impact game buying behaviors in an industry that keeps trying to charge more and more for each game too.

@J_Mo_Money agreed although I think cloud gamings general uptake will still be slow for a while at least before it can be seen as good value.

Still a lot of rural areas that can't take full advantage of that.