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There is a pattern that most gaming consoles follow when it comes to their price. They start high at launch, then become lower as the console’s lifecycle goes on. Then, years later, when the console enters retro status, it becomes expensive again, provided that there is a fanbase to sustain a retro market for it. However, the PS5 is hitting the post-launch price hike point early as Sony raises prices on the PlayStation 5 console due to increasingly expensive parts, thanks, in part, to AI data centers.

The price increases for the PS5 were announced last week and are making the consoles nearly as expensive as they were at launch. Starting on April 2, 2026, a standard PS5 now costs $649.99, up from $549.99 following the last price increase. Compare this to the launch price of $499.99 back in 2020 when the console launched. Nearly six years after the launch of the PS5, Sony’s console has gone up in price rather than down.
It is worth remembering that this is the price for a new PS5 console; used consoles will be more affordable for fans.

While the blog post detailing these price increases doesn’t specifically cite the reasons for them beyond “continued pressures in the global economic landscape,” the fact that we’re still in the midst of a RAM shortage caused by both crypto-mining and AI data centers probably isn’t a coincidence. Add in the ongoing war in Iran that has pushed the price of oil up drastically, and things are looking rough for console fans out there. This isn’t the first time that Sony has increased the price of PS5 consoles, but it comes at a time when many gamers are having their budgets pinched.

The gaming industry has come a long way since Pong blew all our minds in the 70s. We've got everything you need to know about the next big thing in games. Of course, Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be the big game of 2026, but there are plenty of other games coming out between now and then. Here is our starter guide for every gamer:

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