Sony has announced a Japanese-only digital version of the PlayStation 5, specifically for Japan.
The cheaper 825GB PS5 digital version, revealed during the State of Play broadcast in Japan, costs 55,000 yen (about $350) and will be released on November 21, 2025.
This is a similar offering to the Japanese-only Switch 2, which Nintendo released at a discounted price in Japan earlier this year.
For comparison, a base PS5 console with a disc drive currently costs $549.99 in the US, and the PS5 digital version costs $499.99. Meanwhile, the PS5 Pro costs $749.99. Prices for all three went up in the US in August.
Releasing a cheaper PS5 model in Japan will be a key part of Sony’s strategy to boost sales of the console and expand PlayStation’s user base. This morning, Sony announced that the PS5 has sold 84.2 million units in five years, and in the three months ending September 30, it sold an additional 3.9 million units. This means that the PS5 lags slightly behind the PS4, which has sold over 86.1 million units to retailers after five years on sale.
The cheaper PS5 console, available only in Japan, was not the only recent hardware that Sony announced during State of Play Japan. A 27-inch PlayStation Monitor with VRR support and a DualSense charging hook has also been confirmed. Other notable announcements include the first DLC for FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Nightreign. Here’s everything announced in State of Play Japan.
Wesley is the news director at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. Wesley can be reached at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
