Sony has announced a hike in the recommended retail prices (RRPs) for PlayStation 5 consoles across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, effective from April 14. The decision comes in response to the "challenging economic environment," characterized by high inflation rates and fluctuating exchange rates. This news was officially confirmed via a post on the PlayStation Blog.
Here are the new RRPs:
- Europe:
- PS5 Digital Edition – €500 (No change for the standard PS5 with disc drive)
- UK:
- PS5 Digital Edition – £430 (No change for the standard PS5 with disc drive)
- 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
Notably, the price of the PS5 Pro remains unchanged.
This follows similar RRP increases implemented in 2022, making the PS5 significantly more expensive in several regions than at its launch. In Europe and the UK, the PS5 Digital Edition has seen a €100/£70 increase from its initial price of €400/£360. In Australia, the standard PS5 has gone up by AUD $80 from AUD $750, and the Digital Edition by AUD $150 from AUD $600. In New Zealand, the standard PS5 has increased by NZD $130 from NZD $820, while the Digital Edition has risen by NZD $210 from NZD $650.
However, in a surprising move, the RRP of the PS5 disc drive is being reduced to €80/£70/AUD $125/NZD $140, offering some relief to consumers looking to upgrade their console experience.
