Here’s how much the PlayStation 5 costs in 2020 compared to 2020. 2026

When the PlayStation 5 arrived in 2020, it seemed reasonably priced given the performance increases on offer – if you could find one in stock. However, more than half a decade has passed since then and the PlayStation 5 now costs more than it did at launch.

We usually see price drops, bundles, and sales this far into a console generation, but the ninth generation was the first in a while to buck that trend. Even with minor hardware revisions, little has changed inside to justify a price increase. So how much more are you paying for a PS5 in 2026 compared to when it launched in 2020, and why is Sony charging you more now?

The standard PlayStation 5 offers two editions: the disc version launched at a suggested retail price of $499, while the digital edition debuted at $399. The latter was consistent with the previous console’s price (without accounting for inflation), since the PlayStation 4 launched at $399 in 2013 and the PS4 Pro was the same price when it hit shelves in 2016.

Fast forward to 2026, and the PS5 Digital Edition now sells for $599, a jump of $200 after six years. This goes against typical pricing trends towards the end of the console generation, where the platform has matured and has significant deals. The PS5 Disc Edition saw a relatively smaller increase, going from $499 to $649, but that still represents a 30% increase over six years. For comparison, the PS4 Slim arrived in 2016 and brought that console’s MSRP down to $299.

Sony refreshed the PS5 with its own Slim redesign in 2023, which increased the starting price of the Digital Edition to $449 and kept the Disc version at $500. As our PS5 Slim review found, the revamped console didn’t improve performance. Sony has reduced the internal components and reduced the physical footprint of the console. The other significant difference was an increase in onboard storage, from 825GB on the launch PS5 to 1TB on the Slim. Additionally, the Digital Slim supports an $80 disc drive add-on if you change your mind about physical games.

The first PS5 price hike took place in August 2025, with each model increasing by $50. To make the situation even worse, Sony brought the Slim Digital model down to 825GB of storage in late 2025. Then, in April 2026, we got another $100 price increase to reach the current MSRP of $650 for the disk model and $600 for the digital. Meanwhile, the PS5 Pro started at $700 in 2024, increased by $50 in August 2025, and climbed up to $900 after the April 2026 hikes.

Inflation does not fully explain this disparity. According to the US CPI Inflation Calculator, the original $399 price of the Digital Edition is $514.90 in today’s dollars, but the current MSRP is much higher, at $599. The disk-based model is closer; its launch price of $499 in November 2020 is equivalent to about $644 today.

If the 2023 Slim redesign didn’t lead to a massive price increase, why is the PS5 so much more expensive now? Simply put, it’s the result of an industry-wide shortage of NAND and RAM that has affected more than just gaming consoles. We’ve seen Apple raise prices by hundreds of dollars, as has almost every other hardware company.

The current AI boom is a major factor behind the memory supply crisis. Data center companies have been awarded contracts for huge amounts of high-performance memory. And since only a few specialized factories can produce cutting-edge DRAM and NAND, this limits the supply of consumer electronics like laptops and gaming consoles.

Sony explicitly stated during a Q4 2025 investor call that “rising memory prices increase bill of materials (BOM) costs and worsen manufacturing costs (for PS5).” However, the company has ensured sufficient memory supply to meet its manufacturing capacity until the end of 2026. Sony said it expects the shortage to continue until 2027 and may also affect the next generation of consoles.

Typically, game console prices do not allow for huge profits. The PlayStation 5 is no exception to this rule: Sony hopes to make most of its profits from selling games, accessories and subscriptions.

Sony is getting 30% off almost any game, DLC or other transaction made on the PlayStation Store. Think about how many games you’re likely to buy over the next half-decade or more. Part of this commission goes towards maintaining the server infrastructure for downloads and other services, but this remains a significant source of profit for the company. This situation is further compounded by the company’s plan to stop production of gaming discs in 2028.

Consoles can also be subsidized by subscription revenue. You need a PlayStation Plus subscription (which has also increased in price) to access online multiplayer in paid games, as well as cloud save saves – essential features for modern gaming. Sony can therefore spread its expected profits over a long period rather than billing consumers in advance. This makes the console even more attractive to potential buyers, generating more subscribers and possible profits.

This formula has worked well for several generations of consoles, notably with the PlayStation 3 generation which popularized digital game sales and introduced PlayStation Plus. Additionally, processing hardware would generally become cheaper over the course of the console generation. It was therefore not uncommon for console manufacturers to lower the prices of their consoles after a few years without affecting their bottom line. But that didn’t happen with the PlayStation 5.

So if prices have increased for us, we can assume that the cost of manufacturing a PS5 console has increased proportionately. We already know that it’s in a console manufacturer’s best interest to keep the price of entry as affordable as possible. So, if RAM prices were to drop, we can expect price drops, starting with temporary discounts and bundles at retailers, and then eventually a drop in MSRP.

For now, strong demand for the PS5, and especially the PS5 Pro for the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto 6means prices are likely to remain high.