Gamers Respond to PlayStation 5’s $100 Price Increase

If you snagged a PlayStation 5 back in 2020 for the original $400 or $500, consider yourself fortunate. By the end of next week, the price will jump by at least $150. Sony attributes this increase to “pressures in the global economic landscape.” Sounds familiar, right?

This console generation has been marked by a mix of disappointing news about canceled games and studio closures alongside some standout titles, making it a tough time for Sony to defend this price hike. While it’s easy to empathize with the challenges faced by tech companies today, many gamers feel that Sony hasn’t delivered enough this generation to justify an extra $150 for the PS5 compared to its 2020 price.

The internet is buzzing with reactions ranging from disbelief at Sony’s boldness to frustration over the current situation, nostalgia for the days when console prices actually dropped, and concern about what this could mean for the PlayStation 6 when it eventually arrives, possibly in 2027 or later.

Might get my base PS5 life insurance

—Connor Makar (@connormakar.bsky.social)2026-03-27T12:26:06.654Z

Good thing we saved all that money on eggs

—TAHK0 (@tahk0.bsky.social)2026-03-27T12:20:24.862Z

Kevin Butler. $299.

I miss when consoles actually went down in price the longer the generation went on…

—Radec (@realradec)March 27, 2026

If nothing changes, I wouldn’t be surprised if the base PS6 launches at $700 or more.

—Stealth (@Stealth40k)March 27, 2026

2010s: “If millennials stopped spending money on smashed avocado and expensive coffee, they could afford a house”

2020s: “If millennials stopped spending money on eggs and gasoline, they could afford a PS5”

—Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX)March 27, 2026

On one hand, tariffs and the global economy are driving prices up for everything.

On the other hand, who in their right mind would buy one of these in 2026?

—Paul Tassi (@PaulTassi)March 27, 2026

$650 for a base PS5

—TheNCSmaster (@TheNCSmaster)March 27, 2026

Consoles typically get cheaper as they age, and the PS5 is approaching its sixth anniversary this November. Sony even mentioned back in 2024 that the console was nearing the “latter stage of its life cycle,” yet it hasn’t delivered much beyond a few failed live-service games, a slew of shuttered studios, and Astro Bot, which celebrates the PlayStation legacy but lacks characters from PS5 titles.

With reports suggesting that Sony is stepping back from PC ports, great games like Ghost of Yotei and exciting upcoming titles like Saros and Marvel’s Wolverine will only be available on the PS5. So, if you want to dive into this chaotic situation, you’ll need to shell out at least $600. Not exactly a tempting offer, especially when gamers will soon have to think about the cost of upgrading to a PS6 in just a few years. And what will that price tag look like? $1,000?