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There are a lot of great games on the way for PlayStation. Right now, there has just been the release of Death Stranding 2, and in just a few months we will be treated to Ghost of Yotei. While these games are great, they’re unfortunately happening against a backdrop of video games becoming more expensive. Everyone’s already worried about what Take-Two will do with GTA 6, but, before Take-Two have even had the opportunity to raise prices, Microsoft and Nintendo have moved the needle first. Now Sony has implemented PlayStation Store price hikes early as they intend on continuing to “maximise profitability”.
Sony increases PlayStation Store prices early
Brazilian video game outlet, gamevicio, has reported that Sony has prematurely increased prices for games on the PSN store. According to the outlet, these price increases were expected for September, so they have come a couple months early.
The outlet cited a PlayStation statement saying, “Sony Interactive Entertainment has updated pricing for PlayStation Store content due to challenging market conditions, including fluctuating exchange rates. As a result, Brazil has seen an increase in games and additional content from the PS Store. Pricing decisions vary by region and are based on the current economic environment”.
Examples of price increases on the Brazilian PSN store can be found below:
- WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers – R$249,50 → R$339,90
- The Outer Worlds 2 – R$399,90 → R$455,90
- Silent Hill f – R$349,90 → R$399,90
- Ninja Gaiden 4 – R$349,90 → R$399,90
- Lost Soul Aside – R$299,90 → R$339,90
- Hell is Us – R$299,90 → R$339,90
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – R$ 349,90 → R$ 399,90
- The Last of Us Part I – R$349,90 → R$ 399,90
- Astro Bot – R$299,90 → R$ 339,90
- Demon’s Souls – R$349,90 → R$ 399,90
In addition to the above, it’s also reported that there have been PSN store price increases in Turkey. This follows on from a 55% hike for Turkey as part of the PS Plus rises that came into effect in April for new subscribers and will now apply to existing subscribers’ next billing date. Other countries impacted by the PS Plus price increases earlier this year include Canada, Australia, and a lot more.
We don’t know if PSN store price increases will happen anywhere else, but it seems possible as AAA games slowly rise to a baseline selling price of $80. It’s not only PSN store prices PlayStation users need to worry about as Sony has also signalled more PS Plus price hikes could happen.
In pointing to the possibility of more PS Plus price increases, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO, Hideaki Nishino, said they will continue to “maximise profitability” in wake of noticing “Subscribers are increasingly choosing our Premium and Extra tiers, which now represent approximately 38% of total subscribers”.
We hope there won’t be more PS Plus price increases as well as PSN store hikes for other regions, but, sadly, it’s looking like a matter of when rather than if. The sad truth is gaming is continually becoming more expensive, although Shuhei Yoshida has defended $80 games, claiming the cost of gaming is “amazingly affordable” overall.
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