There was a time when purchasing a new PlayStation console meant something: staring at your bank account, convincing yourself that swiping your card was the right decision, and sighing dramatically after walking out of the store with the console; it felt like a ritual.
However, the concept of owning something is somehow so outdated in 2026 that even Sony has decided to offer the PlayStation 5 under a leasing or rental program (along with other PlayStation hardware) in at least one of its key markets.
A Netflix-like approach to next-gen gaming
In the UK, Sony has partnered with Raylo, a London-based fintech company that offers leasing subscriptions for consumer electronics, to launch the “PlayStation Flex” program, allowing buyers to rent a PS5 on a monthly basis without paying any upfront costs.
Buyers can choose between rental terms of 12, 24 or 36 months; The longer the rental period, the lower the monthly rent.
For example, the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (825GB, with a DualSense Wireless Controller) is available for just £9.95 (~$13.58) per month for 36 months, £10.49 (~$14.32) per month for 24 months, and £14.59 (~$19.91) per month for 12 months.
The console is also available on a monthly rolling basis and has the flexibility to cancel at any time, albeit at a monthly subscription of £19.49 (~$26.60).
Monthly rental flexibility is critical
What’s even more interesting is that the PlayStation Flex program offers free next-day delivery, 14-day returns, and a lifetime warranty for the console.
After the lease ends, buyers can either request a new console of their choice without an upgrade fee, continue their monthly subscription, purchase the console, or return it.
So instead of spending £350-£400 to buy a console, you can actually rent it and use it for around three years for the same price.
This all sounds too good to be true, but the PlayStation Flex Raylo page is already live and claims that you can choose from the available console and hardware options, select your rental length, sign up within 60 seconds and have the console delivered the next day.
A smart expansion strategy?
However, the fact that Raylo runs a soft credit check makes things sound more realistic.
While this could be the Japanese giant’s way of getting inventory going, it sounds like a brilliant idea to me to increase adoption of the console by tapping into a previously unexplored audience.
Unfortunately, Sony has not confirmed any such program for the US or other regions. Would you like the company to release “PlayStation Flex” for you?
