The PS5 has been the first Sony console to go up in price over time instead of becoming more affordable.
When the PlayStation 5 arrived in 2020, its price tag seemed reasonable given the performance increases on offer — if you could find one in stock. Over half a decade has passed since, though, and the PlayStation 5 now costs more than it did at launch.
We typically see price cuts, bundles and sales this far along into a console generation, but the ninth generation has been the first in some time to buck that trend. Even with minor hardware revisions, not much has changed on the inside to warrant a price hike. So how much more are you paying for a PS5 in 2026 compared to its launch in 2020, and why is Sony charging you more now?
The standard PlayStation 5 has two editions: the disc version launched at an MSRP of $499, while the Digital Edition debuted at $399. The latter was consistent with previous console pricing (without adjusting for inflation), as the PlayStation 4 launched at $399 in 2013 and the PS4 Pro was the same cost when it hit shelves in 2016.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the PS5 Digital Edition now retails at $599 — a $200 jump after six years. This flies in the face of typical pricing trends towards the end of the console generation, where the platform has matured and offers major deals. The Disc Edition PS5 has seen a relatively smaller jump, going from $499 to $649, but that's still a 30 percent increase over six years.
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