Sony has raised prices on several PlayStation 5 titles in the Brazilian PlayStation Store, sparking frustration among local gamers. The price hikes affect both first-party and third-party games and apply retroactively, including launch titles like Demon’s Souls.
The company attributes the increase to “challenging market conditions, including fluctuating exchange rates.” For example, the newly released Death Stranding 2: On the Beach jumped from R$349.90 (about $63.80) to R$399.90 (around $73) just days after launch.
Players have criticized the move, noting that many third-party games can be found at significantly lower prices on platforms like Steam. Additionally, expensive hardware costs in Brazil contribute to the overall burden on gamers.
“Sony Interactive Entertainment has updated the pricing of PlayStation Store content due to challenging market conditions, including fluctuating currency exchange rates. As a result, Brazil has seen an increase in PS Store games and add-on content. Pricing decisions vary by region and are based on the current economic environment.”
Previously, Sony consoles have drawn a global player base, with the PS5 performing well compared to the PS4 worldwide. However, high prices have slowed growth in Europe, and a similar trend may emerge in South America.
While the US market has largely avoided such increases—aside from the PS5 Digital Edition rising from $399.99 to $449.99 a few years ago—future tariffs and currency issues could still impact prices.
Brazilian players and others continue to voice dissatisfaction over rising console gaming costs. How these changes affect the gaming community remains to be seen.