Gamers might have to begin saving early, since the next-generation consoles are likely to be assigned a much higher price tag.
According to industry experts, the next PlayStation 6 (PS6) by Sony as well as the next Xbox by Microsoft may be released at a price of approximately $1000 which is a significantly higher price when compared to the older consoles.
These forecasts come after the recent alterations in pricing of PlayStation 5 collection. Following the recent increase, the PS5 Pro has been priced near to $900 in America and it represents an overall trend of an upsurge in prices within the gaming sector.
Similar increases have also been experienced on the standard PS5 models and the digital Edition.
This growth has been attributed to a mix of factors such as increased component and production costs, currency volatility, and constant supply chain upheavals by the experts.
This has been primarily caused by the escalating cost of major parts including the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and RAM as well as the cost of logistics and other raw materials.
The monetary pressure on production has also been increased by geopolitical strains and technology importation tariffs.
The same is predicted to happen to Microsoft with its next-generation console, which is allegedly called Project Helix.
Even the existing premium models, like the 2TB Xbox Series X, are already very expensive, and any upgrades in the future cannot be available at a low cost.
Amongst these hikes, Nintendo Switch is comparably cheap, with a relative contrast in the market. Nonetheless, commentators warn that such pressure can come even to Nintendo.
The next Xbox and PS6 are expected to be released around 2028.
Current prices of PS5 are:
| PS5 Variant | Old Price (USD) | New Price (USD) | Old Price/PKR (excluding sales tax, import duties, regulatory fees, etc.) | New Price/PKR (excluding sales tax, import duties, regulatory fees, etc.) | Increase (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 (Disc Edition) | $549.99 | $649.99 | 153,997 | Rs. 181,997 | Rs. 28,000 |
| PlayStation 5 Digital Edition | $499.99 | $599.99 | 139,997 | Rs. 167,997 | Rs. 28,000 |
| PlayStation 5 Pro | $749.99 | $899.99 | 209,997 | Rs. 251,997 | Rs. 42,000 |
Also read: PS5 prices jump globally as Sony announces major hike
