Does the PS4 Price Drop in 2022? A Friendly Guide

Wondering if you should buy a PS4 in 2022? Whether the price will drop again soon? As your gaming friend, let me walk you through everything you need to know!

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) console has seen some great discounts over its lifetime. But will the price drop again in 2022? Or is now the right time to buy? Keep reading for the full scoop!

A Quick PS4 Pricing History

First, a quick refresher on the PS4‘s pricing journey so far:

• Launch Price (Nov 2013): $399 for standard model
• 1st Price Cut (Oct 2015): $349 (-$50)
• PS4 Slim (Sep 2016): $299 (replaced original model)
• PS4 Pro (Nov 2016): $399 (mid-generation upgrade)
• Latest Price Cut (Aug 2017): $269 (-$30 for Slim model)

So the PS4 Slim has stayed at $269 for over 5 years now. Of course, real-world prices have gone lower thanks to bundles, sales, and discounts. But the official price tag hasn‘t budged.

By The Numbers: PS4 Sales Dominance

The PS4 absolutely dominated the 8th console generation, outselling Xbox One consoles by more than 2-to-1. Here are some of the PS4‘s huge sales milestones so far:

• As of January 2022: Over 117 million PS4s sold worldwide
• Hit 100M faster than any other console in history (5 years vs. PS2‘s 6 years)
• Nearly doubled lifetime sales of PS3 (87M) and Xbox One (51M)
• Monthly sales still over 800k units as of October 2021

The PS4 user base is massive. Game developers will support it for years to come. But will prices drop in 2022 to drive even more sales?

Will the PS4 Get Cheaper This Year?

I‘d say major discounts are unlikely, but smaller holiday deals are probable.

Sony is focused on making enough PS5s right now. The last thing they want to do is lure gamers away with big PS4 sales.

The PS4 Slim fills an important niche at $269 – approachable for casual gamers but not directly competing with the $499 PS5. Sony won‘t want to cut too far into that crucial 5 million+ gap in pricing.

If we do get a PS4 discount in 2022, expect it around the holidays. Something like a $50 drop would make sense. Maybe a limited-time "PS4 Season Pass" bundle for $219.

But I‘d be surprised if Sony slashes the price by $100+ while still battling PS5 supply issues. The PS4‘s pricing sweet spot seems to be $199 – $249 for now.

PS4 vs. PS5 – Which Should You Buy?

For many gamers, the PS4 remains a great choice, especially at discounted prices:

• Huge Game Library – Over 4000 titles to choose from
• Affordable Entry Point – Regular sales and bundles under $250
• Established Platform – 100M+ gamers to compete and socialize with

However, for serious players and tech enthusiasts, the PS5 does offer a meaningful upgrade:

• 4K & 60fps -Smoother framerates and crisper image quality
• Faster Loading – Near-instant with the PS5‘s SSD
• New Experiences – Advanced haptics and 3D audio immersion
• Next-Gen Ready – More exclusives optimized for PS5 power

If cost is no concern, the PS5 is absolutely the way to go for the best performance and newest experiences. You‘ll be set for the next 5+ years of releases.

But for the rest of us on a budget, a discounted PS4 provides plenty of bang for buck!

The PS4 Lifecycle: What Does History Tell Us?

To predict the PS4‘s future, we can look at Sony‘s previous consoles:

• PlayStation 3: Launched in 2006. Supported until 2017 (11 years)
• PlayStation 2: Launched in 2000. Supported until 2013 (13 years!)

If this lifecycle continues, we can expect the PS4 to remain viable for at least 5 more years.

By 2027, the PS5 will be firmly established and dominating the market. But the PS4 should still see support and new games released.

Third-party publishers will optimize titles for PS5 power. But they‘ll still create PS4 versions to tap into that huge 100M+ install base.

This means the PS4 you buy in 2022 can definitely still last you well into the late 2020s!

The Verdict: Should You Buy a PS4 in 2022?

For most gamers, I think the PS4 remains a smart purchase in 2022 if found for around $250 or less.

The console offers great value at its current pricing. You miss out on some next-gen features. But you gain access to an incredible library full of classics and hits.

Finding a bundle with games and accessories included can make the overall package even sweeter. Keep an eye out for deals around the holidays when retailers want to clear inventory.

For parents buying a shared family console, budget-focused gamers, or patient types happy to wait for PS5 availability and price drops, the PS4 is still a very solid choice.

As your friend, I‘d say go for it! Enjoy years of awesome PS4 gaming while we wait for the PS5 hype to die down. Sony won‘t be abandoning the PS4 anytime soon, and you‘ll get your money‘s worth from the huge catalog of games.

Let me know if you have any other PS4 pricing or buying questions! More than happy to chat PlayStation. Game on!