You aren't imagining that some things feel a lot more expensive these days...and we don't just mean the price of eggs. While the gaming industry enjoyed a massive boom during the pandemic, it doesn't seem those profits are being passed down to consumers, and away from major studios shutting up shop or lengthy delays pushing back your ability to play your favorite upcoming games, there are new fears that your love of gaming is about to cost you a lot more.
Although many have tried to downplay the idea of the console wars, the big three of Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony continue to duke it out. It's largely Microsoft and Sony that tend to butt heads, but while those on the Blue Team might've been smugly gloating about Xbox's recent price hikes, the Green Team could be about to get some sweet revenge.
In the midst of President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, PlayStation fans are bracing for another price rise. We were already aware that Trumpenomics could upend the entire tech industry, but it's not just the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 we should be keeping an eye on.
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During a Q&A section of Sony's latest earnings report, Sony CFO Lin Tao suggested that the gaming giant could "pass the price" of the potential $680 million hit it's about to take from new import taxes from territories like China:
Tao reiterated: "In terms of the tariffs, we are not just simply calculating the simple tariffs [prices] to come up with 100 billion yen, but are thinking about the current available information and looking at the market trend, we may pass the price [to customers] and also shipment allocation.
“So we are taking different measures in managing to come up to the 100 billion yen.”
Sony reassured gamers that there's about three months of PS5 inventory currently on US shelves, although time quickly flies. CEO Hiroki Totoki said that while manufacturing some consoles in America is a possible way of getting around the tariffs long-term, it's neither a quick nor inexpensive option.
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As Totoki reminds us: "The PlayStation 5 is being manufactured in many areas [its components], so whether it's going to be manufactured in the US or not, it needs to be considered going forward in such a critical situation."
We've only just got over the last round of PS5 price increases, so to be potentially bludgeoned with more so soon after isn't a good look.
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In general, the gaming sphere is in a pretty sorry state right now.
After Nintendo upped the price of its games to a new $80 standard, and GTA 6 is tipped to come in at over $100, having to pay more for PlayStation consoles and games alike is not something gamers need to hear right now. With the PS5 Pro already costing $700 and looking like the best way to play GTA 6, we could really do with a break here.
Unfortunately, much like Netflix clamping down on passwords and increasing prices saw profits boom, we sadly doubt a PS5 price hike is going to affect anyone other than us poor, downtrodden gamers.