When the PS5 Pro launched in November 2024 with a price of $699, many people shook their heads. However, April 2026 brought a scenario that no one wanted to take seriously: the console's price rose to $900 in the US.
The reason is a global shortage of components caused by corporations building data centers for AI. Sony did not take the costs upon themselves and passed them on to the players.
As Jade King from TheGamer notes, gaming has ceased to be an "affordable luxury." Today, the choice is simple: either a new console or paying rent for a month.
"I'm never going to buy a house anyway, so at least I have this $900 box" – the phrase has become a sad motto for many gamers.
The problem is not only the price but also the shortage of games. During a similar period in the PS4's life, players could choose between God of War, Spider-Man, and Horizon. Now, in mid-2026, the number of true PlayStation exclusives can be counted on one hand.
Sony has become a corporation that closes talented studios, such as Bluepoint Games, cancels ambitious projects, and jacks up prices on "hardware" that mainly serves to launch old hits with slightly better graphics.
For decades, the rule was that technology gets cheaper over time. Now it's broken. The PS5 is not only not falling in price, but it is also rising sharply.
