We told you that you’d be seeing a lot of “prices going up” headlines over the next few months. Xbox consoles were a particularly notable victim of tariffs, but if you think you’re in the clear with the PlayStation 5, you might want to think again.
As Sony prepares to brace for the impact of US tariffs on Chinese-made goods, the company is exploring a wealth of options, and it’s not ruling out a price increase on its products, and yes, the PlayStation 5 range is included in there. During a recent earnings call with investors, Sony’s Chief Financial Officer, Lin Tao, acknowledged that the company is exploring options to “pass on” the increased costs stemming from tariffs to consumers. While Tao did not specifically single out the PS5, the majority of PS5 consoles are made in China (a few are made in Sony’s home market of Japan, but components are still sourced from China), so they would probably be first in line for a price increase if one is ever needed. Sony has previously adjusted PS5 prices in some regions, including the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
As a reminder, the digital edition of the PlayStation 5 starts at $449.99, while the version with a disc drive goes up to $499.99, and the PlayStation 5 Pro goes up to a whopping $699.99. If tariffs wreak havoc, we’ll see even higher prices on a console that has barely fluctuated price-wise over the past five years. United States President Donald Trump announced reductions in tariffs on Chinese goods, which will be brought down from 145% to 30% for a limited time while both countries potentially work out a trade agreement. Still, 30% is significant—it’s just not a de facto trade embargo like it used to be—and it will continue to result in price increases since the prices of imports are still more expensive than they used to be.
This is not a confirmation that prices will increase, but let’s be honest—they probably will. Not all might be lost, though, and we might have a sliver of hope. Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki hinted that Sony might seek to make consoles in the US, saying that the PS5 “can be produced locally” in the country and that such a move would be an “efficient strategy” that “has to be considered going forward.” But right now, it looks like pretty much all options are on the table, so this could go multiple ways still. The most realistic option right now would be to increase prices, like everyone else has done until now, because manufacturing in the US brings a brand new set of challenges by itself, especially in the short term.
Source: The Verge
