{"id":3136,"date":"2026-05-02T15:57:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T12:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/?p=3136"},"modified":"2026-05-02T15:58:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T12:58:19","slug":"ps5-refurbished-price-increase-2026-updated-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/ps5-refurbished-price-increase-2026-updated-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"PS5 Price Hikes Keep Coming: Refurbished Models Now $100 More Expensive"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sony has increased refurbished PS5 Slim prices by $100 on PlayStation Direct, following the global $100 hike on new consoles in April 2026. Budget options are shrinking fast.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Sony has raised the price of refurbished PS5 Slim consoles by $100 on PlayStation Direct, effectively closing one of the last affordable entry points into the PlayStation 5 ecosystem. The increase, spotted on May 1, 2026, follows the global price hike on all new PS5 models that went into effect on April 2, bringing the refurbished disc edition to $549.99 and the digital edition to $499.99.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the New Refurbished PS5 Prices?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The updated refurbished pricing on PlayStation Direct is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Model<\/th>Previous Price<\/th>New Price<\/th>Increase<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
PS5 Slim Disc (Refurbished)<\/td>$449.99<\/td>$549.99<\/td>+$100<\/td><\/tr>
PS5 Slim Digital (Refurbished)<\/td>$399.99<\/td>$499.99<\/td>+$100<\/td><\/tr>
Original PS5 Disc (Refurbished)<\/td>$399<\/td>$399<\/td>No change<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sony’s refurbished units go through a rigorous recertification process and come with a 12-month warranty, a DualSense controller, and all necessary cables. They may have minor cosmetic imperfections but are functionally identical to new consoles. The only remaining budget option is the refurbished original (launch) PS5 with a disc drive, which still sits at $399, though stock is expected to be limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Do New PS5 Consoles Cost After the April Hike?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sony announced the global price increase on March 27, 2026, via the official PlayStation Blog, citing “continued pressures in the global economic landscape.” The new recommended retail prices took effect on April 2:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Region<\/th>PS5 Disc<\/th>PS5 Digital<\/th>PS5 Pro<\/th>PS Portal<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
US<\/td>$649.99<\/td>$599.99<\/td>$899.99<\/td>$249.99<\/td><\/tr>
Europe<\/td>\u20ac649.99<\/td>\u20ac599.99<\/td>\u20ac899.99<\/td>\u20ac249.99<\/td><\/tr>
UK<\/td>\u00a3569.99<\/td>\u00a3519.99<\/td>\u00a3789.99<\/td>\u00a3219.99<\/td><\/tr>
Japan<\/td>\u00a597,980<\/td>\u00a589,980<\/td>\u00a5137,980<\/td>\u00a539,980<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The standard PS5 launched at $499 in November 2020. Six years and multiple price hikes later, that same disc-equipped model now costs $649.99, a cumulative increase of over 30%. The PS5 Pro, which debuted without a disc drive, is now approaching the $900 mark. For European buyers, the situation is arguably worse: the \u20ac899.99 PS5 Pro price converts to over $1,000 at current exchange rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are Prices Going Up? The AI Memory Crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Sony points to broad “global economic pressures,” the core driver is the AI-fuelled chip shortage. The rapid expansion of AI data centres has created explosive demand for memory chips (RAM) and storage components (SSDs). These are the same components used in consumer electronics like the PS5, which contains 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and an internal SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With big tech companies absorbing chip supply for AI infrastructure at an unprecedented rate, manufacturers like Sony face significantly higher component costs. Sony had price protection agreements with its suppliers, but those contracts have expired, forcing the company to pass the increased costs on to consumers. This is the second price increase within a year: Sony previously raised all PS5 models by $50 in August 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even refurbished consoles, which were produced before the worst of the memory shortage, are not spared. Sony appears to have increased refurbished pricing to maintain a consistent $100 gap between new and refurbished models rather than letting refurbished units undercut new ones too aggressively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hikes Are Going Global: Six More Countries Hit on May 1<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On May 1, 2026, Sony extended its price increases to South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The increases in Southeast Asia are particularly steep. In the Philippines, the standard PS5 saw roughly a 30% price jump. In Indonesia, the PlayStation Portal price rose by approximately 44.5%. South Korea’s PS5 price climbed to \u20a9948,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Europe, the US, Japan, the UK, and now Southeast Asia all affected, Sony’s pricing strategy is clearly a worldwide recalibration, not a region-specific adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demand for Used PS5 Consoles Has Surged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The price hikes have triggered a massive shift toward the second-hand market. UK online marketplace Gumtree reported a 93% year-on-year increase in enquiries for pre-owned PS5 consoles. In London, demand spiked by 129% following the April 2 price increase. Manchester saw a 91% rise. Gumtree CEO Andy Harper said the price increase “triggered an immediate reaction from buyers” with demand surging “in a matter of days.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, the announcement also caused a wave of panic buying of new units before the deadline. Circana data showed that US PS5 hardware sales hit 2026 highs during the week ending April 4. On Amazon alone, the PS5 Pro sold over 20,000 units in a single month, topping the best-seller list despite its near-$900 price tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No Real Alternatives in Sight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What makes this situation particularly frustrating for gamers is the lack of competitive alternatives. Microsoft raised Xbox Series S\/X prices in May 2025, and Xbox sales have been in freefall. The Xbox Series X now costs $599.99 in the US, while the Series S sits at $379.99. Nintendo’s Switch 2, which launched in June 2025, has held its price so far, but Nintendo’s president has publicly stated that a price increase is not off the table as memory costs continue to climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building a comparable gaming PC is even more expensive in the current component market. The chip shortage has pushed GPU and RAM prices up across the board, making the PC route a poor budget alternative. For most gamers who want to play this year’s major releases, including the highly anticipated GTA 6, the PS5 remains effectively the only viable option, and it just got significantly more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What This Means for the PS6 Generation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Industry analysts are already drawing conclusions about what these price trends mean for future hardware. If a mid-generation PS5 Pro is selling for $900 in 2026, the base PS6, reportedly coming in 2027, could easily launch at $600 to $700 or higher. The era of the $500 launch console may genuinely be over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sony VP of Global Marketing Isabelle Tomas stated on the PlayStation Blog that the company made this decision “to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences.” While that framing focuses on quality, the underlying message is clear: hardware margins are being squeezed, and consumers will bear the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things Worth Knowing Before Buying a PS5 Right Now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is a refurbished PS5 still worth it?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At $499 (digital) or $549 (disc), refurbished PS5 Slim models are still $100 cheaper than their new counterparts. Sony’s 12-month warranty provides peace of mind. The best deal, however, is the original launch PS5 refurbished at $399, if you can find it in stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will PS5 prices drop anytime soon?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not likely. The AI-driven memory shortage shows no signs of easing, and Sony has given no indication of reversing its pricing decisions. A price reduction may only come closer to the PS6 launch, but even that is uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I buy used instead?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The used market is booming, but that increased demand is also pushing second-hand prices up. GameStop has already raised its pre-owned PS5 Pro price to $807.49. eBay still has some listings closer to older prices, but these are disappearing fast. Always check seller reputation and ensure the console has not been banned or reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does this compare to Xbox pricing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Xbox Series X costs $599.99 in the US, $50 less than the standard PS5. However, Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem is in a weaker position, with fewer exclusives and an uncertain hardware roadmap. The Switch 2 starts lower but targets a different audience entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are looking to manage your PlayStation spending more efficiently, especially on digital games and subscriptions, PlayStation gift cards on GamerMarkt<\/a> offer a convenient way to add funds to your PSN wallet with instant delivery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sony has increased refurbished PS5 Slim prices by $100 on PlayStation Direct, following the global $100 hike on new consoles in April 2026. Budget options are shrinking fast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3137,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[322],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3136"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3138,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3136\/revisions\/3138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gamermarkt.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}