Featured Image Credit: Microsoft/Sony Interactive Entertainment
Topics: Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Sony, PlayStation, PlayStation 5
Topics: Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Sony, PlayStation, PlayStation 5
A PlayStation 5 price increase has been roasted by gamers which in turn has seen a sharp increase in Xbox Series X/S console sales.
Despite bringing us endless amounts of joy by offering thousands of video games to play, keeping up with the latest consoles is never cheap which is why it can be best to wait for the likes of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch to get a reasonable discount to save money.
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It would make sense that if a console received a sizable discount, in turn, it would benefit from increased sales from happy consumers. However, a recent price increase which has been roasted by gamers has resulted in increased sales with another market brand.
It’s no secret that Microsoft has struggled to win over Japanese gamers in the land of the rising sun, which has led some to believe this was why it decided to close The Evil Within and Hi-Fi Rush developer, Tango Gameworks. Thankfully, that talented studio was recently revived by PUBG publisher, Krafton.
Yet, in an unexpected turn of events, as reported by Automaton, on 2 September, Sony bumped up the price of the digital edition PlayStation 5 from 59,980 yen to 72,980 yen. The disc edition increased from 66,980 yen to 79,980 yen.
As for the Xbox Series X, its RRP remained at 66,790 yen and the Series S at just 49,900, and it seems that the non-price increase has benefited Microsoft greatly. Japanese retailer, Yodobashi says that the Xbox Series X has shot up to number eight in its sales charts when previously, it wasn't even in the top 100 as of 29 August 2024.
Redditors have been discussing the recent PlayStation 5 price increase in Japan, leaving many feeling bemused. “It's baffling that you could pick up a console at launch and for it to be cheaper than what it is now,” said MrBorden and PhantomSesay adding “I’m sure Sony will test the waters as far as they can before consumers start to have enough.”
That being said, there may be more to this story, as suggested by rieusse, who claims that the bump in Xbox Series X sales could have more to do with a shortage of PS5 consoles rather than Sony increasing the price.
“I don’t think this is about the price increase at all. This is because Yodabashi (and many retailers) are out of PS5s (all SKUs),” rieusse claims.
“I know because I’ve just been to three different Yodobashi stores this week, in Shinjuku, Akihabara and Ueno," they continued. "You can’t buy PS5s at the moment so naturally, the Xbox Series is the clear alternative.”
Whatever the official story may or may not be, it’s still nice seeing a console that has largely struggled in Japan now benefit from a surge in system sales.