Consoles More Expensive Than The PS5’s New $650 Price

by

Lately, everyone’s been talking about how expensive games and consoles are getting, and right now, PlayStation is getting a lot of heat. Even though the PS5 has been out for six years and we’re all expecting the PS6 to come out soon, they just raised the price on all versions. Now, the standard PS5 costs a whopping $650, which is pretty rough!

While gaming has always had expensive phases, especially when it first started, the current prices are still concerning to many fans. It feels like the cost of gaming is only going to increase, making the hobby less affordable and harder for people to enjoy.

Fit the 9 games into the grid.

Criteria Grid Pick a tile to place a game.
Time: 00:00

Results

0
—
More Games

Pick a game

Choose 1 of 9
×

PlayStation 3

Pricey Even Back Then

Details:

  • Launch price: $599 (2006)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$970

Even though the PlayStation 3 was relatively new when it came out, it was still expensive for gamers. This high price was mainly because of its advanced hardware. It included features like a Blu-ray player and a powerful, complex processor called the Cell, which made it costly to manufacture and ultimately, for customers to buy.

Sony defended the high price of the console by highlighting its dual function as a gaming system and a versatile entertainment center. Public reaction was split – while people acknowledged the advanced technology, the cost was a significant obstacle, particularly when compared to other options. This launch serves as a reminder that PlayStation has a history of releasing expensive devices.

Sega Saturn

Far From A Competitive Price

Details:

  • Launch price: $399 (1995)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$830

The Sega Saturn was strong when it came to 2D games, but its complex internal design made it difficult for developers. As gamers increasingly wanted 3D games, the Saturn didn’t really stand out. Its unexpected release and high price also hurt sales, meaning only those willing to spend a lot of money initially bought it.

The pricing was also confusing because the market was very competitive, especially with Sony’s recent release of a less expensive and easier-to-use system. Although the Saturn had some great arcade-style games, its high price and complicated design ultimately led to its failure, and it’s now remembered as a minor part of gaming history rather than a major success.

Xbox One

The All-In-One Entertainment Device

Details:

  • Launch price: $499 (2013)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$700

The Xbox One generation marked a turning point where Microsoft began to fall behind PlayStation, and a key factor was its higher price. Costing $100 more due to the included Kinect, the console tried to do too much – acting as a hub for TV, apps, voice control, and games. While ambitious, this broadened focus increased the price without appealing much to core gamers.

The product received a lot of criticism because it tried to do too much, and many felt the included Kinect was an unwanted addition, particularly since the PlayStation 4 offered a similar experience at a lower price. Microsoft eventually changed its approach, but the initial negative reaction had already hurt sales and the product never regained its early popularity.

Atari 5200

Bringing Arcades Into The Home

Details:

  • Launch price: $269 (1982)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$915

The Atari 5200 was designed to bring the excitement of arcade games home, but it was quite expensive. While technically advanced for its time and capable of delivering on that promise, it struggled to gain popularity because it didn’t have enough unique games that people wanted to buy.

Most people didn’t think the system was worth the price, especially since other options already had a wider selection of available games. Although it showed promise, the system lost popularity, proving that a strong game library is essential to convince people to buy new hardware.

Intellivision

Premium Hardware Means Premium Price

Details:

  • Launch price: $299 (1979)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$1350

The Intellivision was designed to be a more sophisticated gaming console than its competitors. It boasted better graphics and more challenging games, and its higher price tag aimed at players who wanted a truly advanced gaming experience that wasn’t available elsewhere.

It did reasonably well when it first came out, finding a solid audience among gamers who wanted top-of-the-line experiences. Today’s high-end consoles are similar, but the cost of entry-level options is also increasing, and that’s concerning for many casual gamers and the future of the industry.

Neo Geo

Hardly Consumer Friendly

Details:

  • Launch price: $649 (1990)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$1625

As a fan, I always thought the Neo Geo was amazing – it really did feel like bringing an arcade home! But honestly, it was super expensive. Like a lot of consoles at the time, it tried to give you that arcade experience, but it cost a fortune. And the games weren’t cheap either! It definitely wasn’t a system everyone could afford, that’s for sure. It really hit your wallet hard.

The console was more of a high-end item than a widely popular one, which gave it a good reputation but prevented it from becoming the top choice for most gamers. While it offered the best gaming experience for those who could afford it, other excellent options like the SNES and Game Boy were still available for everyone else.

Philips CD-i

More Than Just A Console

Details:

  • Launch price: $1000 (1991)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$2400

The Philips CD-i was designed to be an all-in-one entertainment system, capable of playing games, educational programs, and videos. While its many features appealed to a lot of people, they also made it very expensive and ultimately weakened its position as a dedicated gaming console.

People weren’t sure what the device was for. It was expensive as just a game console, and didn’t stand out as a video player either. Without many must-have games, the high price didn’t make sense, and ultimately, it failed. This shows the danger of trying to do too much instead of focusing on what you do best – something that’s especially important in the gaming industry today.

3DO Interactive Multiplayer

Marketed With A Premium

Details:

  • Launch price: $699 (1993)
  • Inflation-adjusted: ~$1580

The 3DO was unique because it didn’t make its own hardware. Instead, it let other companies build the consoles and paid 3DO a fee for the privilege. While this idea seemed good in theory and attracted some initial fans, it ultimately hurt consumers. The 3DO was much more expensive than other options, and didn’t offer enough compelling games to justify the higher price.

The console was among the first to demonstrate the possibilities of CD-based games. However, being an early adopter doesn’t guarantee success. Ultimately, its high price and limited selection of compelling games made it a difficult sell, even for people excited about the new technology.

Read More

2026-04-07 14:37