Sony Reveals $350 All-Black PS5, But It's Japan-Only

After a series of price hikes, the PS5 digital edition now costs $599, but Sony has just unveiled a cheaper $350 console—exclusive to Japan.

In a blog post, Sony announced a Japan-only digital 'Midnight Black' PS5 for 55,000 Yen (about $350), launching on November 19, the same day as Grand Theft Auto 6. Given the current hardware pricing landscape, releasing such an affordable console worldwide could potentially shatter sales records. However, it will only be available in Japan.

According to Sony, this model can "only be used with a PlayStation account that has the system language set to 'Japanese' and the 'Country/Region' set to 'Japan.'" While determined users might find workarounds, for most, this PS5 version is effectively locked to Japanese users.

This isn't the first time Sony has launched a cheaper PS5 for the Japanese market. Back in November 2025, Sony announced a digital PS5 at the same 55,000 Yen price, also exclusive to Japan, according to Polygon. But much has changed in the year since, and it's not just the new color scheme.

Nearly all of 2026 has been plagued by price increases driven by AI datacenters. This 'RAMageddon' shows no signs of easing, and it already led Sony to raise PS5 and PS5 Pro prices in the US back in March. With used PS5 Pros now selling for around $1,400, another price hike seems likely.

So, it's improbable that Sony will announce a similarly priced PS5 in the US or Europe anytime soon. Moreover, that 'Midnight Black' colorway isn't available here; the closest is the Black PS5 sold by GameStop. But this new, slightly different color variant is exclusive to Japan, and I'd love to see it released in the US, even if it costs the same as any other PS5.