According to Engadget, the PlayStation 5 is the first Sony console to go up in price over time instead of becoming more affordable. The Digital Edition launched at $399 in 2020 and now sells for $599, while the disc-based model has risen from $499 to $649. The PS5 Pro has climbed from $700 at launch in 2024 to $900 after price increases in August 2025 and April 2026.
Sony's 2023 Slim redesign did not improve performance and initially kept the disc model at $500 while raising the Digital Edition to $449. The later price hikes came as an industry-wide NAND and RAM shortage, fueled by data-center demand for AI, pushed up component costs. Sony told investors that rising memory prices increase bill-of-materials costs and worsen manufacturing costs for the PS5.
Inflation does not fully explain the increases. Engadget notes that the original $399 Digital Edition price would be about $514.90 in today's dollars, well below the current $599. The disc model's $499 launch price would be about $644 today, closer to its current $649. Sony has secured memory supply through the end of 2026 but expects the shortage to continue into 2027 and possibly affect the next console generation.