Sony has announced an increase in the recommended retail prices (RRPs) for PlayStation 5 consoles in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, attributing the change to "a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates." This decision was officially confirmed through a post on the PlayStation Blog.
The new RRPs, effective from April 14, are as follows:
Europe:
- PS5 Digital Edition: €500 (The price for the standard PS5 with disc drive remains unchanged)
UK:
- PS5 Digital Edition: £430 (The price for the standard PS5 with 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.
This recent adjustment follows similar RRP increases implemented in 2022, making the PS5 significantly more expensive in many regions compared to its launch prices. In Europe and the UK, the PS5 Digital Edition has seen a €100/£70 increase from its original launch price of €400/£360. In Australia, the standard PS5 has risen by AUD $80 from AUD $750, while the digital edition has increased by AUD $150 from AUD $600. In New Zealand, the standard PS5 is now NZD $130 more expensive than its launch price of NZD $820, and the digital version has gone up by NZD $210 from NZD $650.
Interestingly, the RRP for the PS5 disc drive is being reduced to €80/£70/AUD $125/NZD $140, offering a slight relief amidst the general price hikes.