The recent price hike on PlayStation consoles has frustrated many U.S. gamers. Although not all retailers have made the change, the PS5, PS5 Digital Edition, and PS5 Pro are all $50 more expensive. Adding to the outrage, Chinese buyers will soon benefit from a lower PS5 price. On social media, Daniel Camilo shared that these gamers will pay less for the systems starting on August 25th.
Converted to USD, the PS5 Digital Edition will be $390 in China, while the PS5 with disc drive falls to $474. For comparison, buyers in the United States can expect to pay $499.99 for the digital version and $549.99 for the standard console. The PS5 Pro price will also increase to $749.99, but it doesn’t appear to be part of the promotion in China.
Even if the PS5 price cut in China is temporary, the timing has irked PlayStation fans across the Pacific. Sony aims to expand in the Asian market, forming a branch to support game developers in the country. Still, the promotion happens as U.S. tariffs aimed at China contributed to higher costs for other gamers.
Sony CFO Lin Tao recently highlighted how the company had taken steps to avoid the effects of tariffs. By May, the manufacturer had amassed a three-month supply of PS5 consoles in the U.S. Also, it relocated some manufacturing outside of China to counter the penalties. Even so, after swift sales, the stockpile ran out. The company explained that the criticized move was due to the continued “challenging economic environment”.
A temporary pause on higher China tariffs also didn’t prevent a higher MSRP on the Nintendo Switch and accessories. Defying historical trends, older consoles are commanding higher prices as the years progress. The Switch 2 remains at its launch price, but a pricier handheld may be inevitable.
I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I’m anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck.