As Sony faces financial pressure from US tariffs on Chinese-made goods, the company is reportedly contemplating a price increase for its PlayStation 5 (PS5) consoles in the United States. The 90-day suspension period for the new tariffs is coming to an end, making consumers and industry stakeholders closely monitor Sony's decisions.
During a recent earnings call, Sony Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao indicated that the company is evaluating various strategies to mitigate the tariff-related costs, including potential price adjustments for its products. While the PS5 was not explicitly mentioned, industry analysts suggest that the console's pricing could be affected.
In addition to considering price increases, Sony is exploring the possibility of relocating PS5 manufacturing to the US. Currently, the majority of PS5 consoles are produced in China, making them subject to the imposed tariffs. Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki acknowledged that domestic production might be a viable strategy to minimise the financial impact of the tariffs, although this strategy would require substantial investment and time.
This development follows previous PS5 price increases in regions like Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, where Sony adjusted prices in response to global economic challenges, including inflation and fluctuating exchange rates. In Malaysia, the price hike happened in 2022, when we last saw a RM200 increase on both the Blu-ray Disc Drive and Digital Edition.
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