Sony’s recent price increases for the PlayStation 5 triggered a significant buying rush at the end of March and the first week of April. Starting April 2, the base PS5 now costs $649.99, the Digital Edition $599.99, and the PS5 Pro a hefty $899.99.
According to industry analyst Mat Piscatella of Circana Research, this announcement led to a surge in PS5 sales, reaching an annual high for 2026 during the first week of April. Hardware sales nearly doubled year-over-year compared to the same week in 2025.
The spike appears driven by fears of further price increases, especially with rumors that the future PS6 could launch at around $800. Ongoing DRAM supply shortages and rising memory costs are likely contributing to Sony’s pricing strategy, prompting many buyers to grab a PS5 now before prices climb even higher.
It remains to be seen how Sony will handle the PS6 launch, but the current rush shows strong demand for the PS5 even at higher prices.
Summary Sony’s PS5 price increases (base $649.99, Digital $599.99, Pro $899.99) triggered a major buying rush, nearly doubling year-over-year hardware sales in early April 2026 and setting a new annual high. Fears of further hikes and future PS6 pricing appear to be the main drivers.
Sources: Circana Research (Mat Piscatella), Sony official pricing announcements, and recent industry sales reports.
