Sony has announced an increase in the recommended retail prices (RRPs) for PlayStation 5 consoles across several regions, including Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, effective from April 14. This decision comes in response to the challenging economic climate characterized by high inflation rates and fluctuating exchange rates, as detailed in a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Here are the updated RRPs:
Europe:
- PS5 Digital Edition – €500 (The price for the standard PS5 with a disc drive remains unchanged.)
UK:
- PS5 Digital Edition – £430 (The price for the standard PS5 with a disc drive remains unchanged.)
Australia:
- Standard PS5 with disc drive – AUD $830
- PS5 Digital Edition – AUD $750
New Zealand:
- Standard PS5 with disc drive – NZD $950
- PS5 Digital Edition – NZD $860
It's worth noting that the price of the PS5 Pro has not been affected by these changes.
These adjustments follow similar price increases implemented in 2022, resulting in a significant rise in the cost of PS5 consoles compared to their initial launch prices. In Europe and the UK, the PS5 Digital Edition has seen a €100/£70 increase from its original €400/£360. In Australia, the standard PS5 has gone up by AUD $80 from AUD $750, while the digital edition has risen by AUD $150 from AUD $600. New Zealand has experienced a NZD $130 increase for the standard PS5 from NZD $820, and a NZD $210 hike for the digital version from NZD $650.
On a positive note, the RRP of the PS5 disc drive is being reduced to €80/£70/AUD $125/NZD $140, offering some relief amidst these price adjustments.