Even Adjusted for Inflation, PS5 Pro Is Sony’s Third Most Expensive Console Ever; Japan Gets Price Gouged Even More

Sony’s $700 price tag for the PS5 Pro has quickly made it one of the most expensive PlayStation consoles in history, even when adjusted for inflation. While the price caused a stir online yesterday, gamers in Japan are realizing just how much more expensive the console is in their country.

While the U.S. price of $700 seems hefty, Japanese players are being asked to pay 119,980 yen, which is approximately $847 USD, far above the $699 USD price in the U.S. Given today’s exchange rates, this figure should be closer to 100,000 yen, making the extra 20,000 yen or $140 feel like an unfair surcharge (thanks, Genki_JPN!).

Similarly, European gamers are feeling similar frustrations. In the U.K., the PS5 Pro is priced at £699.99, and across Europe, it’s €799.99. These prices translate to significantly more than the equivalent U.S. price, particularly when considering the strength of the U.S. dollar compared to European currencies. The 700-dollar price converts to roughly £537 and €635 at current rates.

Some in the U.K. and other European countries are trying to find out if it will be cheaper to import a PS5 Pro from the U.S. than to buy it in their own country. In the U.K., if the shipping cost is less than £150, it may indeed be cheaper to do so.

A Comparison of PlayStation console launch prices:

• PS1 (1995): $300 ($616 adjusted for inflation)
• PS2 (2000): $300 ($542 adjusted)
• PS3 (20GB model, 2006): $500 ($781 adjusted)
• PS3 (60GB model, 2006): $600 ($937 adjusted)
• PS4 (2013): $400 ($540 adjusted)
• PS4 Pro (2016): $400 ($523 adjusted)
• PS5 (no disc drive, 2020): $400 ($483 adjusted)
• PS5 (with disc drive, 2020): $500 ($604 adjusted)
• PS5 slim (no disc drive, 2023): $450 ($461 adjusted)
• PS5 Pro (no disc drive, 2024): $700

Moreover, the price increase should be seen in the context of rising spending power. In the U.S., median household income rose from $32,000 in 1995 to $75,000 in 2022, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. This means people’s paychecks in the early 2020s were, on average, double what they were in the mid-90s. The impact of a $300 PS1 in 1995 is about the same as a $600 console purchased today, providing perspective on the PS5 Pro’s current price point.

More MP1st Reading:

• PS5 Pro Reveal Doesn’t Go as Expected, Community Reaction Largely Negative and Unimpressed
• Palworld PS5 Version Mentioned as Part of Games List for Tokyo Game Show
• Former Sony Interactive Entertainment EU President Says Industry Layoffs Not Due to Corporate Greed, Those Affected Should “Drive an Uber” Until Things Settle

[Source: Game File (subscription required)]

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