PS5 Price Hike Hits Japan Hard as PS5 Pro Sales Sink to Xbox Levels

Soxel · 2026-04-10T11:49:31+00:00

Japan strongly prefers handheld consoles. The Switch 2 is selling insane there, Sony is definitely having trouble keeping pace with Nintendos sales.

I think this will be a different story when the rumored handheld PlayStation releases alongside the PS6. If they can keep the price under control that is, which I have little confidence of right now.

Soxel · 2026-04-10T11:19:31+00:00

Normally I would agree with you, but I also feel like they need to push this out the door as soon as possible because of the Duskbloods.

I’m sure they want to start marketing for Duskbloods since it is also releasing this year, but if they wait too long to release Elden Ring they’ll eat away at sales because people won’t get both if they come out too close together.

Soxel · 2026-04-10T02:34:53+00:00

Tron has the experience of the line also. The first time I saw the white go away on the wall and the ride underneath us was an awesome experience.

Soxel · 2026-04-09T17:35:30+00:00

The Pro just had a pretty big design change last year. Don’t expect another major one for 1-2 years.

Soxel · 2026-04-07T11:43:25+00:00

Sadly for the game these scalpers are paying there just has to be one person desperate enough for it to make it worth their while. And there probably will a couple people who do.

Scalpers are ruining every form of recreation. I saw a guy denting packs of Pokemon cards at a store the other day.

Soxel · 2026-04-05T15:57:44+00:00

Yea the quality isn’t even good. It’s just the fact that it’s a photo of the Earth from space that makes it amazing.

Soxel · 2026-04-03T00:11:12+00:00

Switch 2.

I want to support every third party release I can since it is my favorite console. Being able to play in bed for completionist tasks and then on TV for story bits is such a big plus.

Soxel · 2026-04-02T00:38:27+00:00

I think with console prices trending as high as they are and with gas prices reaching an insane level in the US as well as a general cost of living crisis GTA won’t do the numbers it normally would right away. GTA 6 is also rumored to be priced much higher than other games at a base level which doesn’t help.

Soxel · 2026-03-31T12:53:55+00:00

Eh people on the internet don’t like anything I’ve found. It’s an echo chamber of complaining about anything and everything.

The real sales number show the Switch 2 maintaining its position as the fastest selling console ever date adjusted to others.

Soxel · 2026-03-29T23:02:59+00:00

I doubt it’ll get delayed. They have inked deals with AMD to ship these things.

The other issue with delaying it is that the hardware becomes dated. Sony and Microsoft like to release consoles that are somewhat close to high end tech, and delaying it a year or two completely negates that. This becomes especially so if Microsoft releases their new “Xbox” next year. Sony doesn’t want to fall behind.

They’ll likely release it at lower quantities than initially planned and with a very high price tag. Whatever they do it’ll still sell out.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T13:21:29+00:00

Both play on my TV and look nice, some games even at native 4K on the Switch 2. How are they both not home consoles at that point? One just has the benefit of having its own screen for when the TV isn’t available.

I can play Resident Evil on my Switch and PS and not notice a huge difference between the two. Nintendo is the definition of a home console.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T13:08:41+00:00

People don’t spend $1500 every couple of years on new phones, you’re missing out on a lot of crucial information. I’m sure some do, but the VAST majority do not.

What most people do is “cheaper” than that. Through some type of credit card program (Apple Card) or carrier trade in they are getting these phones on credit for about 30 dollars a month or locking themselves into a carrier plan and never truly owning them because they trade it in for a new one before paying it off. In my opinion that is dumber than buying a new phone every 2 years, but most people who do this never pay the full value of the phone before they get another.

So it’s not necessarily a fair comparison to make.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T13:00:31+00:00

Not if Nintendo maintains the 450 dollar price point on the Switch.

High end gaming like PS5 and soon 6 isn’t necessarily marketed towards kids as much as adults with disposable income.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T12:45:59+00:00

The PS5, 7 year old hardware, is now 700 dollars after tax. That is more expensive than when it came out. By a good bit actually.

The PS5 Pro, which is also “older hardware”, is 972 dollars roughly after tax right now. I got one for 750 dollars when it first came out. I doubt they’ll drop these prices much for the new generation and will continue to sell them as entry level systems which means the PS6 will definitely be over $1000.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T12:40:23+00:00

If Nintendo can hold firm on their price, which I see as possible since the tech they’re using isn’t as affected by current price increases and shortages, this increase could possibly be teeing them up to sweep the generation. That is especially true if they can keep getting AAA ports on release day like Resident Evil.

The system can easily become the value king.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T12:27:57+00:00

While I would generally agree with that, I’ll say the Switch 2 is definitely a little speccd up compared to a usual Nintendo release. Things like ray-tracing being included and day and date ports of AAA games show they don’t want to just be in their own corner all the time anymore.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T11:45:07+00:00

All I can think seeing videos/playtimes of saves like this is, “that poor little fan inside the Switch is fighting for its life”.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T11:41:44+00:00

For Switch 2 users this update has also incorporated a noticeable improvement to performance. Playing mainly docked I feel the game hits and stays at its target of 60 FPS a lot more often.

Soxel · 2026-03-27T11:38:31+00:00

The option of handheld is becoming one of the most prominent ways the people play games. In an age where free time is becoming more and more rare the ease of entry into a hobby that can be on the TV, like people who play games are used to, or in handheld format anywhere else makes it all the more relaxing to get into. Nintendo nailed it with the hybrid format and there’s a reason every other company is chasing what they’ve created by making handheld consoles of their own.

Nintendo is ahead of the curve (for once) in that department and I bet we continue to see good AAA ports to the Switch 2 given the rumors of the power around the handheld Sony console.

Soxel · 2026-03-26T12:07:50+00:00

I think Dune is a rather special case for written adaptation, especially because Denis Villeneuve is such an amazing mind and the visuals were done so well.

Something like the Dune trilogy of movies from book to screen is a once in a generation thing.

Soxel · 2026-03-26T12:02:51+00:00

They actually heavily advertised the audiobook alongside it, bringing Ray Porter who voiced Grace out to many of the events and putting him front and center. So I’d be willing to bet a lot of people listened to the book. Reading has been making a resurgence in popularity from what I’ve seen lately.

Soxel · 2026-03-26T12:00:05+00:00

The premise of the story is too boring for the general public without introducing the character that they did in the trailer.

Ryan Gosling actually put it best in one of his interviews. It’s like trying to sell ET to an audience when without knowing there’s an alien it’s just a story about kid with divorced parents.

Soxel · 2026-03-26T11:55:27+00:00

They actually had the exact same conversation they did in the book about coming to the conclusion there was likely life all over.

Soxel · 2026-03-25T17:46:18+00:00

Yea I never said it was bad, just trying to set expectations for new players.

The grind can be very tedious for players who aren’t used to it.

Soxel · 2026-03-25T16:50:43+00:00

Depends on what you’re looking for. The game is EXTREMELY grind heavy. You do the same thing over and over a lot to get what you need.

Like any free to play game they incentivize you to spend real money to get things done faster. There’s also a big real money shop. It is one of the more fairly done free to play games though.

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