Sony announced a sharp price increase for the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand starting Monday, citing global economic pressures, “stubborn” inflation and volatile currency exchange rates.
Now, the price of the PS5 Digital Edition has risen from €449 to €499 in Europe, while in the UK, it has jumped from £389 to £430.
In Australia, the price has increased from AUD 649 to AUD 749, and in New Zealand, users will have to prepare NZD 859 for this disc-less version.
Interestingly, the prices for the standard version and PS5 Pro remain the same — and even more ‘confused’, the price in the US market has not been touched at all.
This move has sparked speculation and reactions that Sony may be trying to protect its golden market in the US.
According to Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, companies like Sony may be deliberately shifting the burden of rising costs to foreign markets, so as not to “scare off” buyers in the US.
The result?
Other countries have had to bear the brunt of President Trump’s import tariffs, which are now disrupting global supply chains including smartphones and laptops.
Could Malaysia also suffer the same fate after this country?
In short, consumers in other countries are just a stepping stone for Sony to ‘serve’ America.
The era of consoles getting cheaper? Perhaps it has entered the archives of history.
