The PlayStation 5 is the fastest-selling PlayStation console ever. In an ideal world, it could've ended up outselling any console in history, at least in its launch year. Unfortunately, Sony just couldn't keep up with the demand. The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on many industries, including the manufacturing process of the PS5. Due to supply chain and other issues, the PS5 could not maintain its momentum. Now, the PlayStation 5's sales are in danger of slowing down even further after Sony refused to rule out a potential PS5 price hike.
Make no mistake. The PS5 is reasonably priced. The honor of Sony's biggest pricing blunder still belongs to the PS3. High off the success of the PS2, the best-selling gaming console of all time, Sony thought that it could get away with a $499 console in 2006, but it didn't. Sony still sold a fair amount of PS3 units in the console's early years, but its high price point opened the way for its competition. The Xbox 360, in particular, was the biggest benefactor.
History aside, the reason for concern among PlayStation fans right now is Sony's refusal to draw the line on where it stands regarding a PS5 price increase.
According to the company's latest earnings briefings, Sony revealed that it "only" sold 21.7 million units of PS5 since November 2020. In comparison, the company sold 25.4 million PS4 units during the console's first seven quarters on the market. This represents a 28.571% difference in sales, which is a lot given how the PS5 flew off store shelves when it first came out.