Sony PS5 sales drop as price hikes and memory shortage bite
▼ Summary
– Sony sold 1.5 million PS5 consoles in its most recent fourth fiscal quarter, a 46 percent drop year over year.
– Sony raised the price of the regular PS5 from $499.99 to $649.99 over the past year.
– Sony blamed the price hikes on “continued pressures in the global economic landscape,” including a memory crisis and pressure from the war in Iran.
– Sony forecasts that annual gaming revenue will drop 6 percent, potentially impacted by ongoing memory costs.
– Sony plans to base PS5 hardware sales in FY26 on existing volume.
Sony shipped only 1.5 million PS5 units during its latest fourth fiscal quarter, representing a staggering 46 percent decline compared to the same period last year. This sharp drop in PS5 sales follows two price increases over the past twelve months, which have pushed the cost of the standard PS5 from $499.99 to a hefty $649.99.
The company attributed the price hikes to “continued pressures in the global economic landscape,” citing both an ongoing memory shortage and instability stemming from the war in Iran. Looking ahead, Sony projects a 6 percent decline in annual gaming revenue, though that forecast remains vulnerable to persistent memory costs. The company stated, “We plan to base our PS5 hardware sales in FY26 on the volume…” suggesting that future production and pricing strategies will hinge on these supply-side challenges.
As the console market tightens, Sony’s ability to navigate rising component expenses and geopolitical strains will be critical for stabilizing its gaming division’s performance.
(Source: The Verge)
