Have you been contemplating whether to splurge on a PS5? Well, this might be the push you need to finally make a decision. Earlier this year, Sony hiked prices for the PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal in Western markets, as well as in Japan.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian market had remained steady, until now…
What’s Changing?
These changes aren’t your run-of-the-mill “inflation tweaks” meant to keep up with the rising cost of goods, these are massive jumps from the console’s standard price. To give you an idea, DataBlitz lists the standard PS5 Slim with a disc drive at ₱30,790. After May 1st, that price will jump to a hefty ₱40,032.
And it’s not just the Philippines facing double-digit percentage increases, other countries in the Southeast Asian region are seeing similar changes.
| Country | PS5 (Standard) | PS5 Digital Edition | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | SGD 849 | SGD 764 | SGD 1,167 |
| Malaysia | MYR 2,799 | MYR 2,499 | MYR 3,999 |
| Thailand | THB 20,990 | THB 18,790 | THB 30,990 |
| Indonesia | IDR 11,399,000 | IDR 9,999,000 | TBA |
| Vietnam | VND 16,900,000 | TBA | TBA |
Why the Hike?
In its statement on the PlayStation Blog, Sony didn’t provide much detail on what contributed to the increases. Instead, the decision was attributed to “continued pressures in the global economic landscape.”
That said, here are a few possible factors behind the hike:
- Global RAM Shortage: One of the more direct reasons, as the rising cost of memory components has made hardware manufacturing more expensive across the board.
- US–Iran Conflict: While primarily tied to oil and energy, its ripple effects extend further, leading to higher freight costs due to longer routes and increased fuel prices, as well as higher manufacturing costs since electronics production is energy-intensive.
- Currency Fluctuations: The strengthening US dollar against Southeast Asian currencies often forces companies to adjust regional pricing to maintain margins.
Is This the Right Time to Buy?
If you’re living in one of the countries mentioned above, then the answer is a resounding yes, but you’ll need to act quickly, as the new prices take effect on May 1st.
As of writing, platforms like DataBlitz, Shopee, Lazada, and GameXtreme are still selling the PS5 at current prices.
So, if you’ve been planning to buy one, now’s the time, because you might not get another chance at these prices.