What’s happened? To mark the PlayStation 5‘s fifth anniversary, Sony has unveiled a more affordable model, though it won’t be hitting store shelves near you.
- The new PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is exclusive to the Japanese market and features a slightly updated case with a matte surface texture.
- It’s priced at 55,000 yen (~$350), making it roughly $150 cheaper than the PS5 Digital Edition sold in the US.
- However, it’s region-locked to Japan and only supports Japanese as the system language, so importing it isn’t recommended.
Why is this important? The region-locked, cheaper PS5 model signals Sony’s renewed focus on strengthening sales in its home market.
- The move also appears to be a direct effort from the company to curb scalping and prevent gray-market imports.
- It’s part of a wider campaign to promote the PS5 in Japan, which offers PlayStation Network account holders in the region a 10% discount coupon for the PlayStation Store.
Why should I care? The new PS5 model shows Sony’s willingness to lower the console’s price to boost sales, which could influence future pricing strategies in your region.
- The Japan-only release suggests the company is taking strong action against scalpers and resellers, who have driven up console prices in the past.
- It also discourages imports, as the region lock and language limitation are major dealbreakers for buyers located outside of Japan.
What’s next? Sony’s new Japan-exclusive PS5 goes on sale on November 21. It will come with Astro’s Playroom preinstalled, along with a DualSense wireless controller, HDMI cable, USB cable, and power cable in the box. If you’re in Japan and plan on buying one, check out our guides on helpful PS5 tips and key settings you should change on day one.
