The specifics of the PS5 price hike in Korea, teased back in March, have finally been laid bare. The PS5 Digital Edition has seen a staggering 43% jump in price.

Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea took to the official PlayStation blog on April 27th to announce the new recommended retail prices. The standard PS5 now sits at 948,000 won, a 27% increase, while the Digital Edition climbs 43% to 858,000 won. The PS5 Pro follows suit with a 16% hike to 1,298,000 won, and even the PS Portal sees a 31% increase, reaching 378,000 won.

Since its debut in 2020, the PS5 has seen its domestic price tag go up three times. Originally priced at 628,000 won at launch, it crept up to 688,000 won in 2022 and 748,000 won in 2024. Now, it reaches a new high of 948,000 won. These updated prices will officially take effect on May 1st.

This isn't just a local affair; it is a global trend hitting the US, UK, Europe, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia simultaneously. While the PS5 Pro's percentage increase is relatively lower than the base model, the Asian market is bearing a heavier brunt compared to the West. For instance, while the PS5 Digital Edition in Korea skyrocketed by 43%, the standard PS5 in the Philippines and Vietnam saw increases of 30% and 27.1%, respectively.

Sony Interactive Entertainment framed the move as an unavoidable consequence, stating, "Due to the ongoing pressures across the global economic landscape, we have decided to adjust the prices of PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal worldwide." They added, "We are acutely aware of the impact this has on our community, but after careful deliberation, we believe this is necessary to ensure we continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players everywhere."

Meanwhile, the new Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, chimed in during an interview with Gamefile on the 24th (local time). She remarked, "Memory costs will affect pricing and supply. To remain a platform enjoyed by gamers worldwide, we must take these factors into account," acknowledging that memory shortages and rising costs are likely to impact future hardware development.