Sony raised the price of its PlayStation 5 console by $100 USD in response to memory and storage shortages. The company also increased the cost of the PS5 Pro model by $150. These adjustments reflect supply chain pressures affecting hardware production.
Nintendo handheld leads U.S. hardware spending as PlayStation faces steep decline
U.S. sales data for April 2026 shows a significant shift in consumer spending patterns. PlayStation console sales fell 30% year over year during this period. The price increase appears to have influenced purchasing behavior as gamers redirected their funds elsewhere.
Nintendo's Switch 2 dominated the U.S. hardware market by both units sold and total revenue. Analyst Mat Piscatella noted that Nintendo's monthly dollar share of video game hardware spending reached its highest point since July 2025. The handheld console maintained strong performance despite broader industry challenges.
Sony reported a 46% year-over-year decline in sales for January through March 2026 prior to the recent price hike. The company expects lower hardware revenue throughout the remainder of 2026. Circana data suggests May numbers could reveal an even steeper drop in PlayStation console sales.
Source: NotebookCheck
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