Sony launches Japan-only PS5 Digital at ¥55,000

Sony has unveiled a new variant of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition designed exclusively for the Japanese market. The console supports Japanese language only and will be sold at a reduced price, a move many have already likened to Nintendo’s recent playbook.

The announcement came during State of Play Japan, where—contrary to some fan expectations—Sony closed the show not with a new game but with an updated PS5. Given the event’s focus on local players, the shift read as a pragmatic push to reach those who still haven’t moved to the current generation.

The new PS5 Digital (Japan Only) is priced at 55,000 yen (about $355), while the standard digital model currently sells for 72,980 yen (around $475). The gap is substantial, yet even this cheaper unit remains above the original PS5 Digital launched in 2020 at 39,980 yen ($260). In other words, the new sticker lands between the debut price and today’s retail.

For buyers in Japan, this is effectively the most attractive offer on the market, as comparable PS5 versions outside the country cost noticeably more. Analysts interpret the move as an effort by Sony to shore up its position at home, where competition with Nintendo remains especially intense.