Trending Now - Gamers Rush to Buy PS5 Before Upcoming Price Increases

WHO:

Billboard - Sony is the company behind the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro consoles.

IGN - Online gaming communities, including Reddit and X/Twitter, are involved in the debate over purchasing the PS5 Pro.

IGN - Mat Piscatella is a Circana analyst who commented on the gaming market trends.

WHAT:

IGN - Some fans on Reddit are expressing sentiments such as "Fight the FOMO, ignore PS5 Pro" and "Don't let the fear of missing out by some [billion-dollar] company tell you what to do with your hard-earned money."

IGN - A user on Reddit stated, "I saw that enough games benefited from PS5 Pro now to justify the purchase, and I took the plunge. Especially because I bet it would be the best way to play [GTA 6], when that releases in November."

IGN - Another user mentioned, "I was originally planning to wait for the GTA 6 bundle. But a thought crossed my mind that prices might go up, which made me panic, so I decided, 'Forget it-I’ll just buy it now, even without the bundle.'"

IGN - The PS5 Pro is currently the most expensive video game console on the market, with a price increase of $150 from $749.99 to $899.99 set to take effect on April 2nd, 2026.

IGN - GameStop announced on March 27th, 2026, that it is offering up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in.

IGN - Many fans on Reddit are expressing regret for not purchasing the PS5 Pro during the Black Friday sale last year, where it was available for $649.99.

IGN - The PS5 Pro has undergone two price hikes since its launch, with the latest increase being the steepest.

IGN - The PS5 Pro price will increase from $749.99 to $899.99, marking a $150 increase, which is the steepest across the lineup.

IGN - GameStop is currently offering up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in.

IGN - The PS5 Pro has undergone two price hikes since its launch.

IGN - The Black Friday sale on November 24th, 2025, offered the PS5 Pro at $649.99, a $250 saving compared to the new price.

Billboard - The PS5 will soon start at $600, while the PS5 Pro price will increase to $900.

IGN - The PS5 Pro price will increase from $749.99 to $899.99, a $150 jump.

IGN - GameStop is offering up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in.

IGN - The PS5 Pro has undergone two price hikes since its launch.

IGN - The Black Friday sale last year offered the PS5 Pro at $649.99, a $250 saving compared to the new price.

IGN - The imminent release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November is influencing purchasing decisions.

WHERE:

IGN - Major online retailers in the US, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, are still listing the PS5 at its current MSRP.

WHEN:

IGN - The price increases for the PS5 and PS5 Pro are set to take effect on April 2nd, 2026.

IGN - Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for release in November 2026.

WHY:

IGN - Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted, "That premium gaming space is leaning more and more on the affluent consumer."

IGN - Circana analyst Mat Piscatella stated that the gaming market is increasingly leaning towards affluent consumers, with lower-income segments struggling to keep up with rising prices.

IGN - The price hikes are occurring amid a turbulent time for global markets, influenced by US tariffs and conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, with RAM costs surging due to a global memory shortage driven by AI demand.

IGN - Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted that gaming is increasingly trending toward a hobby for high earners, stating, "A bigger portion of the market is going to people who are more affluent, have higher incomes, and the lower-income parts of the market are really struggling."

IGN - The price hikes are occurring amid a turbulent time for global markets, influenced by US tariffs and conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.

IGN - The gaming market is increasingly trending toward a hobby for high earners, as noted by Mat Piscatella.

HOW:

IGN - Sony’s newly upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) algorithm on the PS5 Pro uses AI to analyze game images pixel by pixel, boosting resolution without tanking performance.

IGN - Sony's upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) algorithm enhances game images using AI technology, improving performance for new and older games alike.

IGN - Sony's newly upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) algorithm on the PS5 Pro enhances game images using AI technology.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 19:21 UTC)

Fans on Reddit are sharing mixed feelings about the PS5 Pro, with some urging others to resist the urge to buy into the hype, while others have already made the purchase, citing the upcoming release of GTA 6 as a key reason. One user expressed concern over potential price increases, prompting an impulsive decision to buy the console now rather than wait for a special bundle. Meanwhile, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted that the premium gaming market is increasingly targeting affluent consumers, as Sony's new AI-driven PSSR technology enhances game visuals without sacrificing performance.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 13:22 UTC)

The PS5 Pro is set to become the most expensive video game console on the market, with a price increase of $150, bringing its cost to $899.99 starting April 2nd. GameStop announced on Friday that it will offer up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in, while many fans on Reddit are expressing regret for not buying the console during last year's Black Friday sale when it was priced at $649.99. Analysts note that the gaming market is increasingly catering to affluent consumers, as rising prices make it difficult for lower-income segments to keep up, despite the PS5 Pro's enhanced performance thanks to Sony's upgraded AI technology.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 03:53 UTC)

The price of the PS5 Pro will rise from $749.99 to $899.99, marking a $150 increase, which is the steepest across the lineup. GameStop is currently offering up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in, and this marks the second price hike for the PS5 Pro since its launch. These increases come amid turbulent global markets, with rising RAM costs driven by a memory shortage and a shift in gaming trends toward higher-income consumers, as noted by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella.

(UPDATED March 31, 2026 01:23 UTC)

Sony is set to raise the prices of the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, with the PS5 starting at $600 and the PS5 Pro increasing to $900 April 2nd. This comes as online gaming communities discuss the implications of these price hikes, which follow two previous increases for the PS5 Pro since its launch, and are influenced by upcoming releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 in November. Major retailers in the U.S. are still listing the current prices, while GameStop is offering up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in, reflecting the changing landscape of the gaming market.