Fascinating times. I've been talking about how computers are now an appreciating asset, but I had missed how it has affected consoles. Engadget noted that the PS5 debuted in 2020 for $399 for the digital edition, and is now $599, a 50% increase in price over 6 years. Unheard of in my lifetime.

The standard PlayStation 5 has two editions: the disc version launched at an MSRP of $499, while the Digital Edition debuted at $399. The latter was consistent with previous console pricing (without adjusting for inflation), as the PlayStation 4 launched at $399 in 2013 and the PS4 Pro was the same cost when it hit shelves in 2016.

Fast-forward to 2026, and the PS5 Digital Edition now retails at $599 — a $200 jump after six years. This flies in the face of typical pricing trends towards the end of the console generation, where the platform has matured and offers major deals. The Disc Edition PS5 has seen a relatively smaller jump, going from $499 to $649, but that's still a 30 percent increase over six years. For comparison, the PS4 Slim arrived in 2016 and brought that console's MSRP down to $299.