Last week saw Sony announce that it would be increasing the price of its PlayStation consoles once again, and now, with fans outraged at the eye-watering figures, we could be heading towards a four-figure console with the arrival of the PlayStation 6.
Later this week, Sony’s latest console, the PlayStation 5 Pro, is set to cost a whopping $899.99. In comparison, the base PlayStation 5 model will come in at $599.99, which means that it will now be an extra $200 more than it was at launch. It is hard to believe that a console that is celebrating its six-year anniversary is now more expensive than ever to buy, but with the increasing costs of hardware and tariffs, this news is shocking, yet unsurprising.
The PlayStation 6 Could Cost $1,000, Apparently
However, with many of us already owning a PlayStation 5 console, and rumors swirling over the past few years that the PlayStation 6 is on the not-so-distant horizon, what does this mean for the future of Sony hardware? Well, according to consultant Dr. Serkan Toto, the PlayStation 6, which is rumored to launch as early as 2027, could cost upwards of $1000, making it the first console to hit that four-figure sum.
In an interview with Games Radar, industry researcher Joost van Dreunen agreed with Toto, saying, “We’re quickly moving towards a world in which a $1,000 console will be the norm, and console gaming will become a luxury expenditure.”
“They really don’t want to raise prices on their hardware, because that part is usually a heavily subsidized part of the equation and the sale of games is the gravity point of their revenue model. I predict that the next generation of console hardware will start at a 50% higher price point than the current one did.”
This is also a sentiment shared by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who added, “Could we see $1,000 pricing? Sure, that’s possible. I would really hate to see that, but it’s possible.”
There Aren’t Many Gamers Willing To Pay That
Sony has had some loyal customers since the original PlayStation launched all the way back in 1994. However, with the ongoing global cost of living crisis, it is unlikely that many of us will be willing to fork out $1000 for a console. As such, PlayStation fans recently took to r/gaming to share their thoughts on this eye-watering price tag in a since deleted post.
“Past $800, I’m going to slowly invest in a PC. You can get everything needed for a PC at around like $1500. No way a PS6 is going to be equivalent to a $1500 PC or have the longevity and game catalog,” one user shared. Another agreed, adding, “I don’t think I will be buying a console ever again. The amount of exclusives just doesn’t justify paying any price, especially when the games just come to PC eventually, anyway. The PS5 was the biggest waste of money.”
With many agreeing that committing to a gaming PC will be more worth it in the long run, whilst others hoping that their PlayStation 5 will still keep them going for the next few years, it seems as though Sony is going to see some much lower figures when it comes to the unit sales of the PlayStation 6.
- Brand
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Sony
- Original Release Date
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November 19, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$399.99 (Digital Only), $499.99 (Disc Drive)
- Weight
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Digital Edition now weighs 3.4 kg & base version weighs 3.9 kg
