How much does a PS5 cost in 2025?

The PlayStation 5 (PS5) launched in November 2020 at a recommended retail price of $499.99 USD for the standard edition, and $399.99 USD for the Digital Edition without a disc drive.

In other major markets, the PS5 pricing is:

Region	Standard PS5 Price	Digital Edition Price
United States	$499.99	$399.99
United Kingdom	£479.99	£389.99
Europe	€499.99	€399.99
Australia	AUD $749.95	AUD $599.95
Japan (Yen converted to USD)	$500.82	$415.15

As of January 2023, the PS5 is still being sold at these original RRP prices by authorized retailers. However, finding a PS5 in stock at the RRP has remained challenging since launch due to supply shortages. The actual resale prices are generally much higher, which we‘ll analyze shortly.

First, let‘s look at whether the PS5 is worth purchasing in 2024 at the recommended retail pricing.

Is buying a PS5 worth it in 2024?

For PlayStation fans yet to purchase one, yes – the PS5 is absolutely still worth buying in 2024 despite being on the market for over 2 years now. Here‘s a breakdown of why:

Significantly faster hardware

The PS5 ushers in a generational leap in processing power over the PS4 generation:

• Its AMD Zen 2 CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz is vastly faster than the PS4‘s dated Jaguar CPU
• Its custom RDNA 2 GPU with 36 compute units at 2.23 GHz delivers 10.3 TFLOPs of power. This crushes the PS4‘s 1.84 TFLOP GPU.
• 16GB of GDDR6 RAM enables far more detailed gaming worlds and data streaming. The PS4 had only 8GB DDR5 RAM.
• An ultra-fast NVMe SSD drastically reduces loading times to only a few seconds in many titles.

This combination of cutting-edge hardware allows the PS5 to deliver incredibly detailed 4K visuals, ray tracing, high frame rates up to 120fps, and almost instant load times. It‘s a monumental upgrade over what the PS4 can deliver.

Stunning next-gen exclusive games

The PS5 already has a stellar line-up of exclusives that take advantage of its power:

• Demon‘s Souls – A graphically stunning remake of the classic PlayStation 3 game
• Returnal – An intense third-person shooter with dazzling particle effects
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Vibrant worlds with near instant loading
• Horizon Forbidden West – One of the most beautiful open world games ever made
• Gran Turismo 7 – Hyper realistic racing simulation

And that‘s just a sample. Major exclusives still to come include Marvel‘s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, and Final Fantasy XVI. You can only play these types of advanced next-gen exclusives on PS5.

Enhanced multiplatform games

Even multiplatform games like Elden Ring, Call of Duty, and FIFA run and look better on PS5 compared to PS4. Higher resolutions, faster loading, improved textures, and higher framerates enhance the gameplay experience.

The PS5‘s DualSense controller with advanced haptics takes immersion to the next level in many titles too. You feel much more connected to the gameplay than ever before.

But hard to find in stock

Now, this brings us to the downside – despite being compelling to buy, actually getting your hands on a PS5 at RRP in 2024 remains difficult. The main factor is the ongoing global shortage of semiconductors which heavily impacts console manufacturing.

Both Sony and Microsoft have struggled to produce enough PS5 and Xbox Series X/S units respectively to meet demand. But various analysts have indicated these severe supply constraints could continue throughout 2023, or even into 2024.

So purchasing a PS5 will require persistence and patience. It sells out almost instantly when sporadic restocks occur. You‘ll need to act fast or use services like HotStock to get alerts for a chance to buy one.

Outside of limited restocks, the options are trying your luck at local electronic stores when shipments arrive, or entering the inflated reseller market.

How much are used and resold PS5s going for in 2024?

With supply struggling to keep pace with demand for the PS5, a lucrative resale market has formed with exorbitant pricing. Here are typical current reseller prices:

Condition	Used PS5 Price
Brand new	$799 – $950
Like new	$650 – $850
Good	$550 – $700
Acceptable	$500 – $600

To put these marked-up prices in perspective:

• Brand new PS5 consoles are being resold for 90% to 100% over RRP
• Even used PS5s in acceptable condition still fetch RRP or higher
• First-year PS5 titles like Spider-Man Miles Morales still sell for over $50 used

The huge demand coupled with short supply has created a lucrative resale market. While great for sellers, it understandably frustrates consumers who just want to purchase a PS5 at normal retail prices.

Some estimate over 15% of PS5 sales have been to resellers rather than individual gamers. These units quickly end up at inflated prices online.

Why is the PS5 still hard to find in stock?

We‘ve touched on the core reason already – the global shortage of semiconductors and silicon chips. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S require these for their processing chips and GPUs.

With the pandemic having disrupted supply chains for chip manufacturing, the supply has struggled to catch up. Other factors making PS5 inventories short:

• Record demand – Sony say pre-orders exceeded expectations. PS5 demand is higher than any previous PlayStation console generation.

• Scalpers and bots – Many consoles are bought instantly online by scalpers using bots during restocks. These are quickly resold at higher prices.

• Production challenges – The specialized PS5 hardware is complex to manufacture. Yields have reportedly been lower than Sony wanted.

• Logistics disruptions – Shipping delays and container port congestion continues constraining global deliveries.

Analysts expect gradual improvement from late 2022. But supply will likely remain tight through 2023. Only Sony suspending manufacturing would end scarcity, which is extremely unlikely.

Will the PS5 be readily available in stores in 2024?

Based on most industry analyst expectations, PS5 availability in physical stores will only improve marginally in 2024 – consumers shouldn‘t expect a dramatic turnaround. Production constraints coupled with strong demand will continue creating supply and demand imbalances.

While major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop will occasionally receive restock shipments, these typically sell out in minutes. The odds of casually walking in and finding PS5 stock will remain slim for most of 2024.

Community forums and Twitter accounts which track restocks in real-time will continue being the best sources for timely alerts. Services like Antonline which bundle the PS5 with extras provide another option for getting your hands on one.

Overall, while frustrating, the situation should slowly improve throughout 2023. Hunting down a PS5 will require persistence, but won‘t be an endless chase.

How does the PS5 compare to previous PlayStation consoles?

The PS5 has some key advantages over previous PlayStation generations:

• At launch, the PS5‘s $499 price was only $100 more than the PS4‘s launch price of $399 in 2013. Accounting for inflation, it‘s a very comparable RRP.

• Despite this pricing similarity, the PS5‘s hardware specifications are far superior to any PlayStation predecessor. Below is a high-level comparison:

Console	CPU	GPU Compute Units	GPU Power (TFLOPs)
PS5	8-core Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz	36 CUs @ 2.23GHz	10.3
PS4 Pro	8-core Jaguar @ 2.1GHz	36 CUs @ 911MHz	4.2
PS4	8-core Jaguar @ 1.6GHz	18 CUs @ 800MHz	1.84
PS3	3.2 GHz Cell Broadband Engine	6 SPUs @ 3.2GHz	0.230

• The PS5‘s integrated ultra-fast NVMe SSD drastically reduces load times compared to the older SATA mechanical drives used in previous consoles. Games load in seconds rather than minutes.

• New features like hardware ray tracing, 4K gaming, 120Hz refresh rates, and advanced haptics on the DualSense controller also surpass older PlayStation generations.

So while the PS5 commands a premium price, its hardware and features justify the cost for a next-generation gaming experience.

What about future PS5 models?

Historically, Sony has released redesigned "Slim" models and upgraded "Pro" models of their consoles a few years into each generation:

Console	Original Launch	Slim Model	Pro Model
PS4	2013	2016	2016
PS3	2006	2009	N/A
PS2	2000	2004	N/A

Several industry analysts think a PS5 Pro model is possible by 2023 or 2024. This would feature a more powerful CPU and GPU for even better 4K performance.

A PS5 Slim with a smaller form factor could also arrive by 2024. Sony will likely wait at least 2-3 years from the PS5‘s release before introducing hardware revisions. These tend to launch mid-cycle to reinvigorate sales.

For now, all indications point to Sony focusing fully on ramping up production of the existing PS5 models rather than new versions. But the PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim are compelling future prospects.

Should you buy a PS5 in 2024?

If you‘re in the market for a PS5 in 2024, should you take the plunge? Here are some helpful points to consider:

• The PS5‘s exceptional gaming performance and stunning exclusives are very appealing. You‘ll experience games in ways not possible on PS4.
• However, be prepared for an arduous hunt for one at RRP. Following restock trackers and acting fast is key.
• If not desperate for one immediately, waiting to see if supply constraints improve toward late 2023 could be prudent.
• Buying from a reseller will guarantee you get one, but you’ll pay a hefty premium. Only you can decide if worth it.
• Once purchased at RRP, the PS5 delivers excellent value as a future-proof console likely to last 5-7 years.

Sony has an exciting roadmap of exclusives coming which will be best enjoyed on PS5. While scarce supply remains a huge caveat, most dedicated PlayStation gamers will find acquiring the PS5 well worthwhile once they land one. It represents the new gold standard for immersive console gaming.