Sony has just made a big and surprising move, blaming it partly on new tariffs. The company announced it is increasing the price of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) digital edition by 25%. This is a huge jump, especially for fans who were hoping to get their hands on the console soon.
In the UK, the price of the digital-only PS5 will rise to £429.99. Across Europe, it will now cost €499.99. In Australia, the digital version is going up to A$749.95, and in New Zealand, it will be NZ$859.95. The standard version, which comes with a disc drive, will also see higher prices in some regions. For example, in Australia, the standard PS5 is rising to A$829.95, and in New Zealand, it’s going up to NZ$949.95.
Sony said this decision wasn’t easy. The company blamed the price increase on a tough economic environment. Things like high inflation, currency ups and downs, and the rising cost of making and shipping products were all mentioned. Sony is also feeling the heat from new trade policies that are shaking up the tech world.
Tariffs Make Electronics More Expensive
The price hike is coming just days after a wave of new tariffs was introduced. These tariffs are taxes placed on goods coming into a country. The recent ones are aimed at countries like Japan, where Sony is based.
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On April 2, the United States launched new trade rules, calling it “liberation day.” Products from Japan now face a 24% tariff. This means companies have to pay 24% more to sell their goods in the U.S., and those costs often get passed down to buyers.
Many in the tech industry are now nervous. Tariffs like these can cause a ripple effect. They make it more expensive to get the parts and materials needed to build products. This includes gaming consoles, smartphones, and computers.
One big reason for the rising costs is that much of the technology we use every day depends on a complex global supply chain. That means parts come from many countries before a final product is made. When one part of the chain is taxed, the whole system feels the pressure.
Sony is not the only company dealing with these problems. Other major tech businesses are also preparing for price jumps. Some have already delayed product launches or canceled preorders, especially in the U.S., where the tariffs hit hardest.
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Industry Reels as Uncertainty Grows
The wider video game and tech industry is currently facing a lot of confusion and financial pressure. Just as Sony made its pricing announcement, other companies began taking drastic steps too. One major gaming firm had to delay preorders for a newly announced console in the U.S., just to figure out how the new tariffs might affect their costs.
In response to the tariffs, stock markets in Japan have reacted. Interestingly, shares in Japanese companies went up slightly after the U.S. paused tariffs on some electronics. Items like smartphones and laptops were temporarily spared, helping to calm some fears in the industry. Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, ended the day up by 1%.
But this small relief may not last long. U.S. officials have said that this pause is only temporary. Soon, more electronics might be hit by new tariffs again, including items made in China. The pressure is rising on all sides of the electronics supply chain.
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Adding to the uncertainty, there are growing concerns about national security and the tech industry. Plans are in motion to investigate how electronics, especially semiconductors, are made and where they come from. Some leaders believe the country should not depend on others—especially nations seen as competitors or rivals—for important technology.
These new investigations could bring even more changes to how tech products are built, sold, and priced in the near future.
For now, fans of the PlayStation 5 will have to deal with the higher prices. With no sign of a quick fix, it looks like the cost of gaming may stay high for some time.
