New Delhi: Sony has recently announced its affordable version of its flagship and well-known gaming console, the PlayStation 5, exclusively for the Japanese market. This move is stated to be intended to boost sales against the intense competition from Nintendo in its home country. According to some sources, the disc-free version of the PS5 is priced at 55,000 yen, which is approximately Rs 31,500 and will go on sale on November 21. This price represents a 25% discount compared to the existing model, following a similar price-cutting strategy recently employed by Nintendo for its Switch 2 console.
This latest affordable console is reported to be especially designed to address the exchange-rate challenges that have made the PS5 appear more expensive in Japan than in the US. It is also noted that this is the first time Sony has produced a region-locked console since the PS2 nearly 20 years ago. This latest model can only be used with the Japanese PlayStation account on Sony’s local online games store, which means that if users purchase one and bring it back to India, they won’t be able to play games on it officially.
This cheaper price is expected to boost PlayStation sales during a time when Japanese consumers are hesitant about making large purchases. This move is also aimed at helping Sony expand its market share ahead of next year’s launch of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI. Highlighting, the Japan-only PS5 will still cost slightly more than the equivalent Nintendo Switch 2, which retails for 49,980 yen, which is approximately Rs 28,600. This move may also be a gesture to give a little bit back to Japan and Japanese consumers, to ensure the domestic market is strong. This price-cutting now domestically makes strategic sense as the PS5 is late in its typical seven-to-eight-year console life cycle.
