Sony is introducing a less expensive PlayStation 5, but it will only be made available in Japan. The newest variant of the PS5 has some caveats, but the discount will likely make it a popular pick in Sony’s home country.
Gaming can quickly become an expensive hobby, depending upon what kind of systems a player uses and how many games they pick up. While gamers are clearly still buying, leading to milestones like the Nintendo Switch 2 breaking sales records in Japan and the world, some have balked at high prices for consoles, which would make this new discount on the PS5 an inviting opportunity.
PlayStation 5 Gets a Cheaper Version, But Most Players Can’t Get One
As announced during the State of Play Japan broadcast, a less expensive PlayStation 5 has been unveiled. The cheaper version of the console is a Digital Edition with 825GB built-in storage, and it will launch on November 21, 2025, exclusively in Japan. The new version is a considerable bargain, as it will cost 55,000 yen, or about $355 USD based on currency conversions at the time of publication. Comparatively, in the United States, the standard Digital Edition PS5 with 825GB of space costs $499, so Japanese buyers are seeing a 29% discount compared to what those in the US pay. The Japanese version is even cheaper than what the Digital Edition PS5 cost in the US prior to the recent PlayStation 5 price increase.
Over time, players have been gradually moving from the PS4 to the PS5, and this move may help the PS5 to beat the PS4’s numbers in terms of sales. When comparing the PS4 and PS5, the PlayStation 5 is slightly behind, as the PlayStation 4 sold 86 million units in its first five years, whereas the PS5 is at 84.2 million five years after its 2020 launch. The PS5 has already been dubbed the most profitable console generation in Sony’s history, but selling more consoles would obviously be a plus.
Though Japanese gamers are likely excited for this opportunity, it’s equally disappointing for those outside of Japan. Sony isn’t the first or only one to do this, though, as Nintendo launched the Switch 2 at a lower price in Japan compared to the rest of the world. That launch came with strict restrictions, so even if a buyer outside of Japan tried to import the system, they’d need to be able to understand Japanese and have a Japanese user account in order to play online. The same will also be the case with the upcoming PS5. While buyers might be able to find some discounts during the holiday shopping season, they may also want to consider looking into a refurbished model. At the moment, Sony is selling a certified refurbished PS5 with 825GB of storage for $399. Though this is a higher price than the discounted Japanese version, it also comes with the disc drive, so the slightly higher cost might be worth it to for gamers who value owning physical copies of their games.
Source: State of Play Japan
