Remember when buying a console felt like buying technology… and not like buying stocks? In the good old days of PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and even PlayStation 4, there was a simple, beautiful rule: wait long enough and it will get cheaper. Early adopters paid the premium, patient players received the offers, and everyone lived happily ever after.
Fast forward to 2026, and the PlayStation 5 has decided to turn that rule on its head, throw it into a volcano and charge you extra for the privilege of watching it burn. I bought it in 2020 for $499. Now that same console effectively costs $649. This corresponds to a return of around 30% in six years. Not bad for something whose main purpose is to make people fall off buildings in Spider-Man and ignore real life responsibilities. And the wildest part? This is not a limited edition collector’s item. This is just… the normal console.
And the best part? This isn’t even the first hike. This is a pattern now. A tradition. Almost a ritual. Every few years, Sony looks at the calendar and says, “You know what this needs? More money.”
The “I’ll buy it later” tax
There used to be a rhythm when playing. You waited a year or two, grabbed a discounted console, got games for half the price, and felt like a genius for not rushing. The patience was rewarded. Delayed gratification actually meant something. Now? Waiting simply means…paying more later. This is not how technology is supposed to work. Televisions are becoming cheaper. Smartphones receive a discount. The price of laptops is falling faster than the battery share. But the PS5? It ages like fine wine. However, it doesn’t get any better, just more expensive.
And yes, Sony has its reasons. Inflation. Volatility in the supply chain. Rising component costs. The whole “Global Economic Pressures” bingo card. The AI boom is also quietly driving up memory and storage prices. All valid. All real. But none of that changes how absurd it is to see a six-year-old console costing more than it did when it launched. Because this is not just about inflation, but about the destruction of expectations. Consoles shouldn’t rise in price mid-cycle. That’s not the script.
The Premium Tier Problem
Then there is the PS5 Pro. At $899, it doesn’t even claim to be mainstream anymore. It’s not just a console, it’s a statement. A velvet rope. A quiet little nod that says, “This isn’t for everyone.”
You can play absolutely the same games on the base PS5. But the professional? This is for the people who want ray-traced reflections in puddles that are so realistic they can see their financial decisions in front of them. It’s the gaming equivalent of driving to the grocery store in a luxury SUV. Same goal, completely different energy. And now people are rushing to buy the Pro because no one wants to pay a premium for an already premium console.
The Rising Price of Gaming
Here’s the part that burns a little more. Gaming used to be the accessible option. You bought a console, maybe picked up a few games over time, and were prepared for years to come. Compared to building a gaming PC, it was the budget-friendly entry point. Sure, the gap still exists considering this might be the worst time to build a new PC. On the other hand, owning a PS5 today isn’t just about buying the console.
You’ll need to factor in over $600 worth of hardware, $70 worth of games, and online gaming subscriptions. Not to forget, you’ll still need to spend extra on storage expansion as each game is at least 100GB in size. Put it all together, and suddenly gaming no longer feels casual. It feels intentional and expensive.
Casual vs. Enthusiast: The divide is real
Here’s the part people don’t talk about enough. Casual gaming hasn’t gone away; it just evolved. Mobile games, cloud streaming, play-anywhere platforms… you no longer need expensive hardware to play. But owning games? To run them locally, on dedicated hardware and at full fidelity? This is becoming an enthusiast area.
Just like records. Or mechanical keyboards. Or those who insist on grinding their own coffee beans at 6 a.m. Owning a console in 2026 isn’t just about gaming. It’s also about choosing the “premium” version of the hobby. And yes, it comes with a premium price tag.
The GTA VI factor
And let’s not pretend the timing here is a coincidence. With Grand Theft Auto VI just around the corner, Sony knows exactly what impact it will have.
Everyone was waiting. Everyone is curious. And everyone knows they want to play it right.
At this point, the PS5 feels less like a console and more like a hostage taker. “Oh, you want to explore a brand new open world in 4K? That’s $649. Appreciate the investment.”
Apparently buying early?
So here I sit, clutching my 2020 Launch Edition like it’s a bar of solid gold. It’s getting old, a bit dusty and the controller drift is real. But it’s also the only thing in my house that actually makes me money. That probably says more about my financial decisions than the console itself.
However, if there’s a lesson here, it’s this: the best time to buy a console was yesterday. The second best time is…probably not tomorrow. Because if the last six years have taught us anything, it’s that gaming hardware doesn’t always play by the rules anymore. And honestly? This might be the strangest turn this industry has pulled off yet.
