Anyone looking to buy a gaming PC or a console will be faced with high prices. An example from the community shows how much prices have risen in recent years. Gaming has been getting more expensive for years.
What is this example? A comparison from the community on Reddit shows that all PlayStation consoles became significantly cheaper after release – with one exception: The PS5 became significantly more expensive after release. Compared to its launch price, starting April 1, you will pay 150 Euros more than in 2021:
- The PS1 was priced at $299.99 at launch. 6 years after launch, the console cost only $99 (- 66 %)
- The PS2 also launched at $299.99; 6 years later it was only $129.99 (- 59 %)
- The PS3 launched at $599.99, making it the most expensive console at launch until then. 6 years later, the PS3 was only $269 (- 55 %)
- The PS4 was introduced with a recommended retail price of $399.99; six years later it was only half that price ($199.99, – 50 %)
- The PS5 launched in 2021 at $499.99, and now the console costs $649 (+ 30 %).
This also shows that even consoles that were often considered affordable entry options for gaming have not been spared from rising hardware prices.
Consoles, PC hardware, games, and subscriptions: Everything is getting more expensive without exception
How about other areas? In other areas of gaming, prices are currently not looking much better. Other consoles, gaming PCs, and even subscriptions have become significantly more expensive over the past weeks and months:
- Microsoft adjusted the price of its Xbox consoles in May 2025, increasing prices by 50 Euros per console.
- For games, the new standard price has shifted in many cases from 70 to 80 Euros or $80. For the Switch 2, it is now even 90 Euros for a single game.
- In the PC sector, especially SSDs, graphics cards, and complete gaming PCs have become more expensive.
- Gaming handhelds are increasingly exceeding the 1,000 Euro mark, the Nintendo Switch 2 was already priced almost 500 Euros at launch and is thus no longer an affordable entry console.
- GeForce Now adjusted its subscription on January 1, 2026, giving new users only 100 gaming hours per month; afterwards, it gets really expensive.
- The Xbox Game Pass became significantly more expensive at the end of 2025, costing you between 2 and 6 Euros more per month than before.
What is the reason for this? The reasons for rising prices, which seem to have been occurring for years, are very different. While just a few years ago the Corona pandemic dominated the world and caused a shortage of semiconductors, in 2026, especially tariffs and high RAM prices contribute to rising prices. Additionally, rising inflation is also making everything more expensive. As a bonus, there are also increased energy costs.
Another reason often mentioned: After companies like Microsoft and Sony suffered losses for many years with their subscription models, they now want to finally make money from them: That means prices are rising after having secured customers for years.
Sony is now significantly raising prices for PS5 consoles. The Japanese company stated, “that this is a necessary step to ensure that we can continue to provide players worldwide with innovative, high-quality gaming experiences.” If you are still considering a purchase and who should refrain, you can read on MeinMMO: The PS5 will rise by 100 Euros on April 2, 2026; who should still consider buying it?
