Sony could pass on tariff impact to consumers with PS5 price increase in the US, moving manufacturing being considered

Sony, like most other companies, is anticipating a major impact on its forecasts for the new financial year due to the ongoing tariff uncertainty. Now, it is being reported that the company may end up increasing the price for the PS5 or other hardware and software in the US to compensate for the expected losses. It is also considering moving manufacturing to the US as the consoles “can be produced locally.”

According to a press release, via The Verge, Sony may pass on the price of tariffs on to the consumers which means prices for hardware and software in the US could increase. It anticipates a 100 billion yen (about $680 million) hit in the fiscal year. While the PS5 wasn’t specifically mentioned in the price hike conversation, it is possible seeing as how it has already increased the price in the UK, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. 

As for manufacturing, CEO Hiroki Totoki reportedly mentioned that the PS5 “can be produced locally,” referring to the US, as a move to avoid the tariffs on goods coming in from China and Vietnam. Totoki added that the move is an efficient strategy that should be considered for the future.

Despite the tariffs, Sony is expecting its operating income to increase to 1.38 trillion yen (about $9.4 billion), which is an 8% increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the company shared in its latest fiscal report that PS5 shipments stood at 18.5 million for FY24, taking the total to 77.8 million units across the globe as of March 31, 2025. For comparison, Sony shipped 20.8 million units in FY23 showing a dip in sales for FY24, suggesting a slowdown in momentum. Sony’s Game & Network Services (G&NS) segment, on the other hand, has shown strong performance in software, services, and digital content.