Consumers Upset at New Digital PS5 Price

The new digital version of the PlayStation 5 will have less storage. Instead of a 1 TB Solid State Drive, the new digital PS5 will have an 825 GB SSD. The new version of the digital console will apparently release in Europe first, costing approximately 499 Euros, or about 580 USD.

According to a report from Dexerto, the cost is likely the result of current tariffs. The news came from a “reliable leaker” known as Billbil-Kun via X (formerly Twitter), also according to Dexerto. The leaker initially posted about the news via the French website Dealabs.

Expected Release Date

The new digital version of the PlayStation 5 is expected to come out on September 13 in Europe. Initial news of the storage downgrade allegedly came from Japanese site Kunkoko in June.

The new digital PS5 is also expected to come out in Japan, but no word is out on if the console will come out in North America. The price of existing PS5 models rose by at least $50 due to import tariffs. People expressed their frustrations online regarding the decreased storage.

Reactions to Decreased Storage

One person commented, “This has to be the first console generation in history in which the hardware becomes worse as the years go by lmao.” Another person commented, “I remember the days where people held out on buying a console in hopes that the price for it would go down over time.”

Someone else pointed out that the PS5 Slim was supposed to be “cheaper for the consumers and company.” They added, “Now it has a fan that makes more sound than the base one, comparatively cheaper plastic, no stand in the box except for the [expletive] plastic ring, less storage AND more expensive than the base console…”

What This Means for You

If the new digital PS5 arrives in North America, consumers may pay more money for less storage. With tariffs on the rise, we may see this with other consoles. In turn, the price of AAA games may rise as well, since most base editions of AAA games are $69.99 without taxes.

In addition to increased prices of new games, pre-owned games and consoles may increase in price as a result. Due to import tariffs, PC gamers aren’t spared due to the increased price of PC parts and accessories.

Those used to waiting for the price to drop may have to wait longer. Otherwise, consumers may have to pay more for consoles than anticipated. Another option could be switching to PC, namely, through purchasing a pre-built PC. Also, finding games that aren’t $69.99 or higher is another option. There are tons of lesser-known games that won’t break the bank and deserve plenty of attention.