All of Sony's PlayStation 5 consoles have just got a lot more expensive in the United States, but retailer GameStop is offering gamers a limited-time deal that aims to offset the $50 price hike. Shortly after news broke of the PlayStation 5's retail price increase, which has made every model of the console $50 more expensive within the US, GameStop took to Twitter to announce a special trade-in deal that will give those looking for a new console an additional $50.
On August 20, Sony shocked fans by announcing a significant price increase to all of its PlayStation 5 consoles in the United States. From today, August 21, the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, and PlayStation 5 Pro will all increase their retail price by $50. This means the company's flagship console, the PlayStation 5 Pro, will set gamers back a massive $749.99. Sony says the price hike is due to a "challenging economic environment," but did confirm that it would not be increasing the cost of any PlayStation 5 accessories right now. These price increases also only affect those within the United States, as Sony says it currently has no other price changes to announce for additional markets.
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GameStop Offering an Extra $50 for Console Trade-In
While Sony says it won't be increase the price in additional markets, that's likely because it has already hiked the price of PlayStation 5's in other regions back in April. The good news, however, is that those in the United States have the opportunity to save themselves that $50 increase via a new GameStop deal. Shortly after the news was made official, GameStop took to Twitter and announced that it would be giving gamers an extra $50 towards a new PlayStation 5 console when they trade in any PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, or Nintendo Switch. However, the fine print does reveal that this offer is only valid until August 23, 2025, which means anyone looking to take advantage of the deal needs to act fast.
Although the recent price increase likely came as a shock to many gamers, those who have been keeping up to date with global economics probably saw this coming a mile off. Sony even hinted at a PlayStation 5 price increase back in May, as the company's CFO, Lin Tao, announced that tariffs between China and the United States could reduce the company's operating income by approximately $684 million. At the time, the company said it was looking at other measures to generate the money, but did state it was considering "[passing] the price" to its customers.
Global inflation may be having a big impact on the gaming market, but those who already have one of Sony's latest consoles are in for a treat, as the PlayStation 5 has some big releases coming up in the coming weeks and months. Titles such as Gears of War: Reloaded, Lost Soul Aside, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and many more are just a matter of days away, but it doesn't stop there. In September, fans will finally be able to jump into Hell is Us, NBA 2K26, Borderlands 4, Silent Hill f, and so much more.
