Earlier this year, we let our readers know that increased economic uncertainty would probably lead tohigher prices on tech, and now that a global trade war is seemingly in full effect, prices are indeed on the rise, with companies like Anker confirming that they are raising prices to deal with tariffs. And while this may seem like just a US problem, it has had a rippling effect on the global economy, raising costs on goods worldwide withtech being especially vulnerable.
Unfortunately, it looks like this has also had an effect on the international gmaing world as news broke over the weekend that Sony has implemented a 15% price hike on thePlayStation 5in multiple territories, including Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. And unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the price hikes will stop there.
If you’re gonna buy a TV or PS5 in 2025, do it now before it gets more expensive
The price of certain electronics in the US could go up if the Trump administration imposes tariffs on imported computer chips and semiconductors.
The change could come in just a few days
Sony specifically said in a statement addressing the price hikes that these changes are due to a “challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.” Though the increased US tariffs that were imposed last week on China (where the PS5 is manufactured and assembled), were not mentioned, and prices in the US haven’t changed yet, it’s hard not to imagine that price hikes are coming soon, probably within the next few days.
President Trump has indicated that he is willing to make concessions for the tech industry, with news breaking over the weekend that smartphones, computers and some other electronics would be excluded from the most recent tariffs. In theory this could extend to game consoles, but with economic uncertainty looming over what looks to be the biggest trade war in a century, Sony will likelyfollow Nintendo when it comes to being cautiousabout their console’s future in America, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the 15% price hikes still roll out in North America, despite these potential concessions.
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If you’ve got one of these in your cart, the time to check out is now
Though PS5 deals are rare, Walmart has a pretty good deal right now on aPlayStation 5 Slimwith a disc drive bundled with 2024 Game of the Year Astro Bot for $449, saving you $111 off the bundle’s regular price of $560. You can also opt for the digital-only version of the console with the bundled game for $399, which will net you an identical $111 savings.
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