Sony has announced an increase in the recommended retail prices (RRPs) for PlayStation 5 consoles in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, attributing the change to a challenging economic landscape characterized by high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates. This adjustment was officially confirmed via a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Effective from April 14, the new RRPs are as follows:
- Europe: The PS5 Digital Edition will now cost €500, while there is no change for the standard PS5 with a disc drive.
- UK: The PS5 Digital Edition will be priced at £430, with no change for the standard PS5 with a disc drive.
- Australia: The standard PS5 with a disc drive will be AUD $830, and the PS5 Digital Edition will be AUD $750.
- New Zealand: The standard PS5 with a disc drive will be NZD $950, and the PS5 Digital Edition will be NZD $860.
It's worth noting that the price of the PS5 Pro has not been affected by these changes.
This marks the second round of price increases for the PS5, following similar RRP hikes in 2022. As a result, the PS5 is now significantly more expensive in many regions compared to its launch prices. In Europe and the UK, the PS5 Digital Edition is €100 and £70 more expensive, respectively, than at launch (up from €400 and £360). In Australia, the standard PS5 has increased by AUD $80 (from AUD $750), and the digital edition by AUD $150 (from AUD $600). In New Zealand, the standard PS5 has risen by NZD $130 (from NZD $820), and the digital version by NZD $210 (from NZD $650).
Interestingly, the RRP of the PS5 disc drive is actually decreasing to €80, £70, AUD $125, and NZD $140, offering some relief amidst the overall price hikes.