Inflation: the price of the PS5 increases BD

he PS5 and its DualSense controller // Source: Sony

It is the crisis ! As prices keep rising due to inflation and the average household shopping cart becomes harder to fill, entertainment takes a hit too. This Thursday, Sony announces a price increase for the PlayStation 5 in certain markets including Europe.

THE PLAYSTATION 5 INCREASES IN PRICE

“  The global economic environment is a challenge that many of you around the world are no doubt familiar with  ,” Sony says in the introduction to its blog post. With inflation, component shortages driving up prices and the loss of value of some currencies like the Euro, it’s hard for brands to stay competitive. This is all the more true in a market like that of game consoles , which are often sold at a loss.

For this reason, SIE ( Sony Interactive Entertainment ) decided to raise the price of PS5 in some countries. In Europe, the PS5 therefore goes from 500 to 550 euros and the PS5 Digital Edition from 400 to 450 euros. This price increase also affects the United Kingdom, Japan, China, Australia, Mexico and Canada.

These new rates come into effect immediately, with the exception of Japan where they will be applied from September 15. Some retailers, like Amazon , have yet to pass this on to the selling price of the PS5, but it should be soon.

THE PS5 STILL IN SHORT SUPPLY

It must be said that it was already very difficult to find a PlayStation 5 at its original price in recent weeks. Remember that stocks have been tight for several months already and that the shortage makes it very difficult to access Sony’s latest console. Thus, it is already not uncommon to see the latter displayed at prices exceeding 700 or 800 euros.

It remains to be seen now whether Microsoft will do the same for its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

THE BEST GAME CONSOLES IN 2022

The ninth generation of home consoles has arrived, with the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X and Series S. The Nintendo Switch was released in 2017. Unfortunately, these releases were marred by availability issues, which have still not been resolved (especially regarding the PS5). In addition, the catalog of next-gen games is struggling to grow, players having to wait more and more, in particular due to the Covid crisis that has passed through there.

However, the console war is still raging between Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, who are redoubling their efforts. This includes their on-demand games services, such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus . So, which console to choose? It all depends on your gaming preferences, your budget or your graphics requirements… To help you choose, here is a complete overview of the console market in 2022.

Sony also said that the price of the PS5 increases by 500 to 550 euros in the European market, due to the unfavorable economic situation – in particular inflation. Opposite, Microsoft and Nintendo have not announced a price increase for their consoles (for the moment…).

To best accompany your new home console, you will need a suitable television with HDMI 2.1 . And to play with sound full of ears, take a look at our selection of headsets for Xbox , as well as our guide to the best headsets for PS5 .

HOME GAME CONSOLES

With the Xbox Series X, Microsoft promises us mountains and wonders: an overpowered console, capable of running games in native 4K while not producing airplane jet noise on takeoff.

First observation: the machine is massive! To the point of not fitting in many TV cabinets, especially if you want to put it vertically (which is recommended for better cooling). In action, the machine is indeed very quiet, even with greedy titles.

Source: Arnaud Gelineau – Frandroid

On the software side, we appreciate the interface, simple to use and perfectly fluid. Microsoft also impresses with Xbox 360 and Xbox One backwards compatibility. Not only do the vast majority of titles work, but they see their resolution and framerate increase. It’s a great way to rediscover your toy library.

On the other hand, the list of interesting exclusives so far is limited to say the least and this will not improve in the near future, as Sony has signed most of the promising projects. For its part, the Redmond firm has a huge Joker to play with its Xbox Game Pass . This subscription (9.99 euros per month) gives access to a very large catalog of games. Promising on release, it is constantly growing and is a real argument in favor of Microsoft’s console.

Including in particular the titles of the 23 studios that Microsoft has acquired in recent years, including Zenimax / Bethesta. The next Fallout , Doom or Elder Scrolls will above all be cut for the Xbox.

The Xbox Series X is therefore a very good console, handicapped only by a lack of interesting exclusives at the moment. Find his full review here .

Also Read About: The Mbc2030 live is an innovation on the future of gaming