Why is gaming becoming so expensive? The answer is found in AI
TL;DR
Sony has raised the PS5 price in the UK again by £90 – from an original £449 to £569.99, with the Pro model hitting £789.99.
Key Points
- Historically, consoles got cheaper over time – that trend is now broken.
- AI data centres compete for the same semiconductors and GPU components consoles rely on, driving up costs.
- Manufacturers like Sony pass those component cost increases directly to consumers.
- The Guardian op-ed makes the blunt case: gamers are effectively subsidising AI applications of questionable value.
Nauti's Take
There is a bitter irony here: the technology marketed as the greatest innovation since the internet is making gaming straightforwardly more expensive. Sony is not the real villain – it is responding to genuine cost pressure.
The problem sits one level up: an AI investment boom built on short-term hype and venture capital, not proven end-user value. Until the AI industry delivers on its promises, everyone else foots the bill – literally.
Sources