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- Japanese PlayStation fans are overjoyed by the launch of a region-locked PS5 that introduces a price cut.
- This version, specific to Japan, only costs around $350, a $120 decrease from the normal console.
- Hideaki Nishino, the new CEO of PlayStation, is responsible for this change as he wasn’t ok with PlayStation losing ground to Nintendo in Japan.
As this current generation of consoles has progressed over the years, prices have only increased, with economic conditions forcing giants like Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony to raise the cost of consoles 8 times in the last 6 months.
Sony’s base of operations, Japan, has felt the brunt of this situation, with the PS5 getting a price hike three times in the country since 2020. However, the gaming giant is trying to mend its relationship with the Japanese player base, and as it turns out, Sony’s new technique is working.
Why It Matters: In the era of gaming companies overcharging players for the bare minimum, it’s surprising to see a company sell a console at a loss to regain the trust of its player base.
Many Japanese fans posted on X about how the PS5 has finally arrived at their home, thanks to Sony recently releasing a cheaper region-locked version of the console in Japan, with the cost dropping to just $350.
Players were over the moon to buy the PS5 at its new price, with many using the GoGoPS5 hashtag that Sony is utilizing to market this region-locked console in Japan. This edition introduces a $120 price cut compared to the market version, which retails for around $470 in Japan.
Hideaki Nishino, the new CEO of PlayStation, is the man behind this generous business move. Nishino introduced this region-locked form of the console to win back Japanese players, and judging from reactions online, he is succeeding at this even if Sony is selling the PS5 at a loss in the country.
According to the CEO, the previous management at PlayStation was ok with the PS5 trailing behind Nintendo in Japan. But Nishino felt uncomfortable losing market share in the console’s homeland and came up with this cost-effective edition.
Do you think the $330 PS5 specific to Japan is a good business decision? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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