Sony expects to be hit with JPY 100 billion (about $680 million) in tariffs in the next fiscal year, ending on March 31, 2026. Lin Tao, the company’s CFO, told investors that it is considering options like moving manufacturing to the US and increasing the prices for consumers.
This implies that costs for Sony PS5 consoles will rise since the Japanese company intends to pass the burden of tariffs onto consumers, to the surprise of no one.
Tao did not mention the PS5 console by name, but we doubt the company will try to protect its price through increases elsewhere in the electronics business, like TVs. Sony did increase the price of PS5 in other markets like United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and seems ready to do so in the US as well.
Hiroki Totoki, Sony CEO, did reveal that the company are also considering moving production to the United States, and that would be an “efficient strategy” that “should be considered.”
| PS5 Digital Edition | PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive | Disc Drive for PS5 | |
| United States | $449.99 | $499.99 | $79.99 |
| Europe | €499.99 |
€549.99 (unchanged) | €79.99 |
| United Kingdom | £429.99 |
£479.99 (unchanged) | £69.99 |
| Australia | AUD 749.95 |
AUD 829.95 |
AUD 124.95 |
| New Zealand | NZD 859.95 |
NZD $949.95 |
NZD $139.95 |
The report reveals that Sony shipped 18.5 million PS5 consoles – an 11% decline, compared with the previous 12 months – bringing the total lifetime shipments to 77.7 million.
The majority of PS5 hardware comes from China. The United States paused the trade war and reduced tariffs to 30%, which is still significantly higher than the 10% rate on other countries. Gaming consoles were not part of an exemption, meaning US customers should expect a price increase very soon.