Playstation 5 gets more expensive again
Across Europe, Sony is increasing the price of the cheapest Playstation 5: the version without the drive now costs 500 euros.
(Image: Shutterstock.com/Mohsen Vaziri)
Sony is increasing the price of the Playstation 5 for the second time: the version without the disc drive will have a recommended retail price of 500 euros from April 14, Sony announced in a blog entry. The Japanese company justifies the price increase with "a difficult economic environment with high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates."
While the recommended retail price for the digital version of the PS5 without a disk drive will increase by another 50 euros in Europe, other versions will be spared the price increases: both the disc version of the PS5 and the PS5 Pro will remain at their current prices. They will therefore continue to cost 550 and 800 euros respectively.
Already the second price increase
Even after its second price increase, the Playstation 5 variant without disc drive remains the cheapest entry into the current Playstation universe. However, the two price increases of the console are cumulative: in 2020, the Playstation 5 Digital was launched at a recommended retail price of 400 euros, and in 2022 the price rose to 450 euros. Since then, Sony has reworked the console as a 'slim' version.
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The actual prices of the consoles may differ from the recommended retail price. The Playstation 5 Digital (starting from 389,99 €) is currently still available from several retailers for around €400 – It remains to be seen whether these prices will also increase as a result of Sony's RRP change. Even on Sony's website, the PS5 Digital is currently still listed for 450 euros.
Drive becomes cheaper
Sony is also increasing the price of the PS5 in other markets: in the UK, the version without a disc will cost 430 pounds, while in Australia and New Zealand the versions with a disk drive will also be more expensive.
While the price of the console itself is increasing, the optional drive will be cheaper: instead of 120 euros, it will only cost 80 euros in future. In total, the digital version plus drive will cost 580 euros and will therefore remain more expensive than the normal disc version of the PS5.
(dahe)
