With the cost of a PlayStation 5 going up and up in price since the console’s launch in 2020, late adopters are looking at a $599 entry-level price if they want to play Grand Theft Auto 6 on PS5 this November. While the current generation of consoles is bucking the trend that dedicated gaming devices typically go down in price over time — thanks a lot, generative AI speculation! — Sony is offering some small amount of relief to one market with a new PlayStation 5 console that costs around $350.
The bad news? It’s only available in Japan. But if you’re willing to jump through some (serious) hoops, the new cheaper PlayStation 5 is now available for pre-order.
The PS5 Digital Edition Midnight Black is on sale now in Japan
Sony announced the new PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Midnight Black earlier this month, with pre-orders going live on Oct. 20. The system will be released on Nov. 19 (the same day as GTA 6) and costs 55,000 yen, which translates to about $350 in the U.S. As the name suggests, the new edition wraps the entire console and the included DualSense controller in a sleek, matte-black finish. It’s also digital-only, meaning no built-in disc drive support, but since there’s no physical edition of GTA 6 on the horizon, that shouldn’t matter much to price-conscious buyers.
That said, Sony is selling a disc drive add-on for PlayStation fans who want to use disc-based games. The Midnight Black disc drive for PS5 sells for 11,980 yen (about $75).
Sony revealed the original model of its Japanese-language-only PlayStation 5 in 2025. The special edition is meant to offer the console at a relatively lower price in Japan than Sony can offer internationally, due to import tariffs and trade policies. The new Midnight Black variation is identical to the Japan-exclusive PlayStation 5 launched last year, just in a new colorway. Nintendo also offers a Japan-only version of its Switch 2 that is region- and language-locked. That version of the system retails for 49,980 yen (about $315). That’s a much lower asking price than the North American Switch 2, which now costs $499.99.
Should you buy the Japan-only PS5 Digital Edition?
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Image: Sony -
Image: Sony
Image: Sony
Image: SonyGetting your hands on the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Midnight Black won’t be easy. Online retailers like Amazon Japan block the sale of the cheaper PS5 model outside of Japan, as do stores like Rakuten and Yodobashi. The general North American consumer will also face strong restrictions when it comes to using the Japan-only PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment’s support website, the limitations on the Japan-only PS5 models are severe. “The PS5 digital edition console supports only the Japanese console language and is compatible with Japanese PlayStation accounts (with country/region set as Japan),” Sony says. “Accounts from other countries/regions are not supported.”
Furthermore, Japan’s PS5 Digital Edition console can:
- only access the Japanese PlayStation Store
- play digital PS5 games purchased from the Japanese PlayStation Store
- play supported digital PS4 games purchased from the Japanese PlayStation Store
A better option for non-Japanese fans is probably to find a second-hand PS5 and buy the Midnight Black console covers from PlayStation’s direct sales website.
Another smart choice may be just buying a brand-new PlayStation 5 right now, before prices go up again.
