Gavin Newsom Throws Shade at Donald Trump After PS5 Price Increase

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California Governor Gavin Newsom humorously attributes the recent increase in the price of the PlayStation 5 across the U.S. to President Donald Trump, suggesting it’s due to his financial policies as criticized by Newsom on Twitter. With all versions of the PlayStation 5 now priced $50 higher in the United States, Newsom implies that Trump’s frequent use of tariffs might be responsible for the hike.

In simple terms, a blog post from PlayStation has revealed that starting August 21st, there will be price increases for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, and PlayStation 5 Pro within the US market only. This adjustment raises the suggested retail price of a standard PS5 to around $550, a PS5 Digital Edition to $500, and a PS5 Pro to $750 nationwide.

Gavin Newsom Calls Out Trump for PS5 Price Hike

On the very same day that Sony announced price increases for PlayStations, a tweet from Newsom’s account specifically blamed Trump for these increases affecting U.S. customers. The tweet implied that Trump’s tariff policies were influencing the video game market. Sharing a New York Post tweet on the price hikes, Newsom wrote, “Well done, @realDonaldTrump!!!” With his recent Twitter activity, Newsom – a potential candidate for the 2028 presidency alongside Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg – has received considerable backlash from conservative media. This activity often mimics the president’s habit of boasting, name-calling, and capitalizing words to deliver his message.

As a movie critic, I find myself compelled to discuss the latest developments within the realm of video games, an increasingly captivating aspect of our entertainment industry. In a recent statement, Sony, a notable player in this field, attributed their decision to raise prices on the challenging economic climate we’re currently navigating. However, it’s crucial to note that the company did not explicitly mention tariffs as a contributing factor.

Financial analysts, on the other hand, have been sounding alarm bells about tariffs and their potential impact on our beloved industry for quite some time now. Their warnings date back to before the commencement of Trump’s second term in January.

Recently, a report from the Consumer Technology Association caught my eye. It predicted that if tariffs continue to escalate, gaming consoles could witness a staggering increase in price by approximately 69.4 percent. This is indeed cause for concern and something we, as enthusiasts and consumers, should keep a close watch on.

As a movie critic reincarnated into the world of video games, I must say, the escalating costs of game consoles over time isn’t your typical blockbuster sequel everyone eagerly anticipates. Sony isn’t the sole player in Hollywood raising prices, though. Just like a red carpet premiere, on August 3rd, the Nintendo Switch and its accessories experienced a similar price hike of $30 to $50 per unit in the U.S., depending on the model. This strategic pricing move has yet to affect the highly-anticipated sequel, the Nintendo Switch 2. But, as Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has hinted, the company is closely monitoring market conditions worldwide and in the U.S., suggesting that future price increases for their products might soon be a reality.

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2025-08-21 21:07