Is it worth paying €499 for a PS5 in 2025? 🎮 #PlayStation #PS5

It's late into the PS5 lifecycle (5 years!) and PlayStation announced last week that The PS5 Digital Edition will now cost €499.99 in Europe, up from its previous price of €449.99 (an increase of €50).

• Europe PS5 Digital Edition – €499 (up from €450)
• UK PS5 Digital Edition – £430 (up from £390)
• Australia Standard PS5 with disc drive – AU$829.95 (up from AU$799.95)
• Australia PS5 Digital Edition – AU$749.95 (up from AU$679.95)
• New Zealand Standard PS5 with disc drive – NZ$949.95 (up from NZ$899.95)
• New Zealand PS5 Digital Edition – NZ$859.95 (up from NZ$799.95)

We are all used to consoles going down in price as they age but this second increase to the price is totally out of step with what we are used to and when I think about it, it doesn't seem to make sense to me as there are actually not that many video games on the PS5 that are a true exclusive that you couldn't play elsewhere on a cheaper XBOX console...

In previous generations I have held off buying a console until late on its lifecycle as by then it is a) Cheaper and b) has more MUST PLAY Exclusive Video Games to play on it.

This time it feels different to me so I thought I'd test my theory by looking at the PS5 Exclusives to see which ones are must play to see what the draw to buying an expensive PS5 in 2025 could be...

PS5 'Exclusives' List:
1. Astro Bot - WHAT A GAME! The GOTY 2024 for me! ✅

2. Astro's Playroom - A pack in video game that is heaps of fun and a prelude to Astro Bot ✅

3. Demon's Souls - Not a game I have played but it is a remaster of an older video game, so for me not necessarily a reason to buy a PS5 ❌

4. Destruction AllStars - Who??!! I'd never heard of this and it didn't seem to review that well either❌

5. Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade - I'm not into FFVII but I can see why a fan of one of the biggest IP's might throw down cash to play this on the PS5...BUT it's on PC so why would you? ❌

6. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth - See Above ❌

7. Final Fantasy 16 - See Above ❌

8. Forspoken - This looked so so, but for me not a reason to shell out a heap of cash for new PS5 and also no longer a PS5 exclusive❌

9. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered - I like the idea of playing HZD at some point but I can actually play this on PC ❌

10. Infinity Nikki - Not my type of game thanks and it releases onto Steam on 23/04/25 ❌

11. Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered - another remaster that I can play elsewhere ❌

12. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - This looks great! BUT it's no longer a PS5 exclusive!❌

13. Silent Hill 2 Remake - For Horror fans this is a must from what I have heard but for me not a PS5 seller and also now on PC ❌

14. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - This has always looked wonderful and I'm surprised that I haven't played it yet! BUT it's on PC now...❌

15. Returnal - Not a game I've played but there are plenty of people who advocate for how good this game is BUT again it's on PC now ❌

16. Stellar Blade - Not really a unique game so not one that I think you should buy a PS5 specifically for and it's now on PC so no longer an exclusive. ❌

17. Towers of Aghasba - No longer a PS5 Exclusive ❌

18. The Last of Us Part 1 - No Longer a PS5 Exclusive ❌

19. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered - No Longer a PS5 Exclusive ❌

20. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection - what a wonderful set of video games BUT it's on PC now! ❌

UPCOMING EXCLUSIVES:

1. The Midnight Walk - No longer an exclusive ❌
2. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach - Kojima's games are always worth a look and maybe this is the PS5 killer app ✅
3. Ghost of Yotei - This is an exciting prospect ! ✅
4. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - The most exciting PS5 game in years! ✅
5. Knights of the Old Republic Remake - will this ever get a release date? ❌
6. Marvel's Wolverine - The Teaser Trailer Looked Good....BUT not a PS5 seller yet ❌
7. Marathon - Meh ❌
8. Fairgame$ - Hard to tell how this will land - we'll see❌
9. Sword of the Sea - Looks interesting but not a PS5 seller ❌
10. Phantom Blade 0 - Looks but hard to tell yet ❌

So overall, it feels like there are 2 definite video games that you can only play on PS5 as an exclusive (assuming my list is correct) and one of those games is a 'pack in'! 

I'm therefore scratching my head trying to work out why Sony think this is good business sense. Surely the ecosystem would be better served by lowering the price rather than driving gamers towards XBOX or PC?