The Playstation 5 is getting more expensive. Sony is raising the non-binding retail price of its game consoles in Germany by 50 euros. The US is not affected.
Sony increases the recommended retail price (RRP) for the Playstation 5 in Germany and other countries by 50 euros each. The PS5 with Blu-ray drive will cost 549 euros in Europe (previously 499 euros), the Digital Edition 449 euros (previously 399 euros). According to Sony, the increase in the RRP will initially reach selected markets.
Inflation rates, currency trends and energy costs
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) cites high global inflation rates and unfavorable currency trends as the reason for the price increase. The company describes the price increase as necessary. According to the announcement, improving the availability, which has been poor since the start of sales, remains the top priority.
The inflation affects, for example, the production of the system-on-chip (SoC) for the Playstation 5 at chip order manufacturer TSMC, which has repeatedly increased prices in recent months and years, as have competitors. Recently, energy costs in Taiwan have been rising, costing TSMC the equivalent of hundreds of millions of euros a year.
Price increase in many countries – except USA
In addition to Germany, the countries Great Britain, China, Australia, Mexico and Canada are also affected, in which the RRPs for the PS5 are valid immediately. Japan is to follow on September 15, and the company is keeping an open mind about expanding to other, undisclosed markets in the future. Only in the USA does SIE explicitly rule out a price increase in the blog post.
Internet trading platforms have been selling the various Playstation 5 consoles at significantly inflated prices right from the start. Even in German electronics chains, surcharges of 50 euros were collected in the past – supply and demand. Criminals are also making an effort, so scammers have copied the Sony web shop one-to-one. At MSRP, Sony partners have been selling the PS5 in batches, usually through queuing systems.
Xbox – cheaper, better availability, lower demand
Microsoft has not yet announced a price increase for the more powerful Xbox Series X (compared to the PS5) and the availability is also much better. However, the sales figures from the past year speak for Sony and the Playstation 5.
With retail prices below the RRP of 299 euros, the less powerful Xbox Series S is again significantly cheaper than the Digital Edition of the Playstation 5. However, the different Playstation versions are identical in terms of performance, only the disc drive makes the difference. You can find a comparison of the two next-gen game consoles on voonze online.
Playstation exclusive titles also on the PC
According to reports, Sony is also currently experimenting with a launcher and the Playstation Network for the PC. Previous exclusive titles such as “Marvel’s Spiderman Remastered” or “Horizon Zero Down” for the PC are already available. In the future, waiting may be enough to play the Playstation exclusive titles on the PC.
SIE announced the price increase during the current Gamescom in Cologne, where the company presented the counterpart to the Xbox Elite Controller in the “Opening Night Live” – the DualSense Edge. Like Blizzard, Sony itself is not represented at the fair.
(bme)
