PlayStation Hardware Sales Hit a 26-Year Low

Take a hike, price hikes.

Sony raised prices for the entire PlayStation 5 range back in April and the end result seems to be a lot of unhappy consumers. Sales data has revealed that in May, sales cratered by 58% compared to the previous year. The last time PlayStation hardware sales were this low was all the way back in 2000. That's a whopping 26 years ago.

The entry price into the PlayStation ecosystem rose to $650, while those wanting something more premium in the form of a PS5 Pro are now asked to fork over $900. It's no wonder that consumers seem to have grown reluctant to buy when prices have become so wildly high. What this might mean for Sony in the long run is anyone's guess, as prices for all of the video game hardware makers just seem to keep heading up.

Nintendo Switch 2 had a price hike, too, but at about $500 it practically sounds like a bargain compared to PlayStation (Switch 2 was tops last month, according to sales data), XBOX (which cratered in May with the lowest hardware sales ever for the brand), and Valve's upcoming Steam Machine starting at $1049. An already expensive pastime is becoming something more. With AI being labeled as the primary culprit for the price increases, it's unclear when or if the situation will get any better. We'll keep you all posted.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz