Cease us in the event you’ve heard this one earlier than: A serious online game console maker introduced that it is elevating costs right here in america as a consequence of “a difficult financial surroundings.”

On August 20 — simply hours earlier than the tech world dialed into the Made by Google Pixel 10 launch — Sony introduced that it is elevating the beneficial costs for PS5 consoles by $50 for U.S. retailers. The brand new costs will probably take impact beginning Thursday, August 21, although retailers might implement the brand new costs at completely different occasions.

The information was shared on the PlayStation web site in a short statement by Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of World Advertising and marketing at Sony Interactive Leisure.

“Much like many international companies, we proceed to navigate a difficult financial surroundings. Because of this, we’ve made the tough resolution to extend the beneficial retail value for PlayStation 5 consoles within the U.S. beginning on August 21…The beneficial retail costs for PlayStation 5 equipment stay unchanged, and we’ve got no different value modifications to announce for extra markets.”

Efficient tomorrow, the brand new beneficial retail costs for PS5 consoles can be:

• PlayStation 5 – $549.99

• PlayStation 5 Digital Version – $499.99

• PlayStation 5 Professional – $749.99

Sony did not announce value modifications for buyers in some other international locations, and the assertion did not reveal whether or not PS5 bundles can be impacted, although this appears probably.

Whereas the assertion does not point out tariffs particularly, the phrase “difficult financial surroundings” is a typical euphemism for tech corporations elevating costs due to President Trump’s tariffs.

When Nintendo introduced that it was elevating costs on the unique Swap consoles starting August 3, the corporate cited “market circumstances” as the rationale. And when Microsoft announced price increases on Xbox consoles again in April, it additionally cited “market circumstances.”

As Mashable has beforehand reported, the newest spherical of tariffs from the White Home (each threatened and precise) may have an outsized affect on online game consoles and gaming equipment.

“[A] lot of the large digital manufacturers might have prevented some tariffs by stockpiling inventories earlier within the 12 months, earlier than tariffs have been introduced,” mentioned Rick Kowalski, Senior Director of Enterprise Intelligence on the Client Know-how Affiliation, in a earlier interview with Mashable relating to tariffs. “These stockpiles will solely final just a few months at most, so finally, importers might want to restock, they usually’ll import extra merchandise on the greater tariff charges.”