Shoppers who want to get one PlayStation 5 console should check their local Costco stores to see if Sony's console is still available at its previous price point. However, interested Costco members looking to purchase a PS5 at a lower price should act quickly, as the increased prices will likely take effect once current inventory is cleared.
On April 2, Sony raised the price of its current PS5 console line for the second time in less than a year. While the August 2025 price spike was due to the Trump administration's tariffs on global goods, the April 2026 price jump was due to the ongoing DRAM shortage crisis caused by an order from AI-based companies such as OpenAI. In short, the RAM crisis has caused the prices of RAM kits and other essential components to spiral out of control. The single-disc PS5 Slim console went from $549 to $649, and the PS5 Pro jumped from $749 to a staggering $899 MSRP.
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PS5 buyers should look at Costco bundles to save money
Although the PS5 is now more expensive than ever, some buyers can still get a new console for a decent price. A post by Reddit user Yassermasood on the PlayStation subreddit stated that the prices of PS5 consoles at a Costco store had not caught up with Sony's April 2 announcement. Yassermasood took a picture from a Costco store, which showed a slim PS5 console with a disc drive and an additional DualSense controller priced at $599. Considering that the PS5 Slim was previously $549.99, and that DualSense controllers range from $69 to $74, Costco's PS5 Slim bundle is worth a look. Additionally, the PS5 Pro with an optional DualSense controller was priced at $799.99, which is still a decent deal considering the April 2nd price increase. These packages are exclusive to Costco members, with membership starting at $65 per year for a Gold Star membership.
The bundles posted by Yassermasood are in line with deals Costco has been using throughout 2025. It's also worth noting that the prices posted are for bundles and not standalone units sold at various retailers. In response, other users pointed out that Costco's main competitor, Sam's Club, also has the PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim at their previous price points. Despite Sony's recent price hike, the ongoing RAM crisis could mean the PS5 will have a longer lifespan than expected, which could lead to more sales and bundles for retailers to consider.
Costco has two levels of annual membership: Gold Star and Executive. Gold Star costs $65 per year, while Executive costs $130 per year. Each membership level comes with two cards that subscribers can use. Along with a membership number (received via email), a valid government-issued photo ID is required to obtain a membership card at a Costco store.
The PS5's price increase could be a boon for the PS6
However, the current price of the PS5 could serve as a harbinger of how much Sony's upcoming PS6 console could cost consumers. The cost to manufacture a PS6 was reported to be around $760, with a potential subsidized manufacturing cost of $699 also considered. Given that the actual MSRP of a console is much higher than the manufacturing cost, Sony's PS6 could match Xbox's Project Helix system when it crosses the $1,000 threshold.
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Despite the recent price issues, the PS5 still has several game releases lined up in 2026. With the long-awaited exclusive PS5 Marvel's Wolverine arrive in September, and Grand Theft Auto 6 scheduled to launch in November, time will tell how many more PS5 consoles will be sold to offset Sony's prices.
