Sony has announced a price increase for PlayStation 5 consoles in the United States, citing higher costs linked to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and what it described as a “challenging economic environment.”
The company revealed on Wednesday that the standard PlayStation 5 will now cost $550, while the “Digital Edition” will be priced at $500. A Pro version will sell for $750. This marks a $50 increase on the standard model, which Sony said was necessary to offset rising import costs.
“Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment,” Sony Interactive Entertainment’s vice president of global marketing, Isabelle Tomatis, said in a statement. “As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S.”
The increase follows negotiations between Japan and the Trump administration, which reduced an initially threatened 25 percent tariff on Japanese imports to 15 percent. Even so, Sony estimates tariffs could cost the company about $680 million in the current fiscal year.
Sony is not alone in grappling with the effects of tariffs. U.S.-based cosmetics giant Estée Lauder recently estimated that tariffs would cost around $100 million in the 2026 financial year and said it would adjust prices accordingly. Beverage companies have also been hit, with PepsiCo expected to raise soft drink prices by about 10 percent due to tariffs on imported aluminum used in soda cans. Energy drink maker Monster Beverages has likewise hinted at possible price hikes, citing a “complex and dynamic customs landscape.”
The U.S. Commerce Department this week expanded steel and aluminum tariffs to cover hundreds of additional products, from child seats to heavy machinery. Since returning to the presidency, Trump has imposed tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, arguing the measures protect American industry.
So far, economists say the direct impact on consumer prices has been limited. However, they warn that the full effects of the trade policies may not yet have fully materialized, especially as more companies face the decision of whether to absorb added costs or pass them on to consumers.
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