PS5 price increases amidst PS5 Pro leaks and rumours

PlayStation 5 (PS5) have now experienced a big price increase of 19% with Sony setting the new price for the regular model to ¥79,980 or $550 and ¥72,980 or $503 for the Digital Edition. This decision, however, will only be affecting the home market in Japan, with the rest of the world currently safe from this hike.

Sony has justified this decision as an effect of  “economic fluctuations”. This price hike is also hitting the DualSense Wireless Controllers and PlayStation VR2, with the new price taking effect from September 2. There is still a bit of time to grab one, although, people may want to hold off as rumours for the PS5 Pro release are also going around.

Fans dub this as pre-PS5 Pro preparation

While Sony dubs this price hike as economic fluctuations, people on the Internet are not convinced and believe this to be a half-truth. The last time PS5 saw a price hike was back in 2022 and while there are economic causes, oftentimes, it is likely due to the company bringing in something new.

Also Read: Red Dead Redemption PC port reveal comes through PlayStation store

With a sketch illustration of the final design leaking online, fans believe that Sony may be preparing for a PS5 Pro announcement after a popular insider billbil-kun revealed that Sony will be announcing their latest console in early September, which also marks the price hike for the older console.

billbil-kun: name of the next PS5 model is indeed "PlayStation 5 Pro"

-A sketch illustration of the console based on the final design is provided

-Does not know if there is an edition with a disc drive

-Same DualSense controller

-Expects announcement in first half of… pic.twitter.com/2n4BtlnQZl

— Wario64 (@Wario64) August 29, 2024

The company might be planning to clear the current PS5 stock and focus on the Pro edition as a last chance before the price hike. Following that, the price increase will likely push the fans to go for the better option by investing a little more.

It is currently unknown if there will be a disc version for PS5 Pro, but reports suggest that other accessories will remain the same. The Pro version is also going to be a landmark release for Sony as their competitor Xbox has seemingly given up and with GTA 6 planned for a 2025 release and likely a console-exclusive launch, fans will want the best device to run the game on the highest setting.