The recent price hike for the PlayStation 5 is another reminder that console gaming is getting more expensive — and fast. Supply chain issues like the ongoing RAM shortage are pushing costs up, and players are feeling the impact.

Despite strong competition from newer systems like the Nintendo Switch 2, the PS5 is still selling well. But the fact that people rushed to buy before prices increased shows a shift: gamers are becoming more price-sensitive, and future console launches may depend just as much on affordability as they do on performance.