Sony raised the PS5’s price in the US this week while running a China promotion timed with Lost Soul Aside’s release, producing divergent regional pricing that will affect sales and customer sentiment. The move highlights how tariffs and shipment timing still influence where consoles end up cheaper or costlier.
The company raised the price of the PS5 in the US and pointed to a “challenging economic environment”. PlayStation had increased shipments to the US before tariffs kicked in, which gave the company some extra time. The temporary buffer is gone now, and the sticker shock is real.
Sony is running a promotion in China to coincide with the release of the locally developed Lost Soul Aside. From now through the end of the month, the PS5 Digital Edition is available for RMB 2,799 (~$390) and the PS5 Disc Edition is RMB 3,399 (~$474). The discounted Chinese prices are materially lower than the new US prices, which should help shift extra units in that market.
Some games and controllers have discounts as part of the push as well. Who wins here? Sony is discounting the PS5 through the end of the month, with the PS5 Digital Edition priced at RMB 2,799 ($390) and the PS5 Disc Edition priced at RMB 3,399 ($470).
Meanwhile in China…
Sony is discounting the PS5 through the end of the month, with the PS5 Digital Edition priced at RMB 2,799 ($390) and the PS5 Disc Edition priced at RMB 3,399 ($470).
This is to coincide with the release of Lost Soul Aside (Aug 29).
No tariffs in China pic.twitter.com/V0EVDEFQpd
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 21, 2025
Regional pricing has become a live issue again as the PS5 nears its fifth year on the market, and manufacturers are juggling tariffs, shipments, and local promotions to keep sales moving.
