Look, I don’t want to rush anyone and you should make your own financial decisions, but I’d strongly recommend if you want a PS5 to buy one now.
That includes the existing owners among you who are pondering the prospect of upgrading to a PS5 Pro: I’d highly recommend you purchase one fast.
We’ve already significant fallout with Nintendo’s pricing strategy for the Switch 2, but it hasn’t had to bear the backlash alone for long: Microsoft announced this week that it’s increasing the price of almost all of its products, including its floundering hardware line, which has been posting year-on-year-on-year declines.
At the time of writing, a 2TB Galaxy Black Xbox Series X will cost you $30 more than a much more powerful PS5 Pro; a 1TB Digital Edition Xbox Series S is currently just $20 less than a full-blown PS5 Digital Edition.
These are extraordinary, unprecedented numbers – but honestly, I don’t think Sony is far behind.
The platform holder has already increased prices twice across Europe, and it’s made devastating adjustments in Japan. The only country that’s remained safe is the USA, and I imagine that’s strategic, because it’s the only region Microsoft remains somewhat competitive.
But with its rival now waving the white flag, and the threat of tariffs looming large, it feels inevitable that there’ll be an increase across Sony’s entire product line. If you want a PS5, I’d strongly suggest you get one now.
To the Japanese giant’s credit, its forward-thinking has shielded it somewhat from the immediate madness of the US government’s moves, as it doubled its supply chain and stockpiled systems to avoid incurring any fees.
But once it’s exhausted that inventory, unless anything changes on a political level, it’s going to face all the same problems every other manufacturer is currently facing. And that’s not to mention the macroeconomic issues also unfolding.
I’ve always argued in favour of buying consoles a little later in their lifespan, when the hardware is more affordable and the software library is large. But if you wait much longer on the PS5, I don’t think you’re going to get a cheaper console – there’s only one way the price is going, and it’s up.