As if it wasn’t hard enough to buy a PlayStation 5, now they’re getting even more expensive. On Thursday, Sony announced plans to raise the price of its PS5 consoles in several countries. The increase does not affect the US, but markets in Europe, Japan, China, Australia, Mexico and Canada will see a price jump equivalent to approximately €50 per console.
In a statement explaining the increase, Sony blamed the move on high inflation and “adverse currency trends.” Global supply chain issues have made the PS5 extremely hard to come by since the console was released in November 2020. For a moment, it looked like Sony was getting close to being able to meet demand when it said it would ramp up production in May of this year. But this recent price move makes it clear that there are still some holds.
Following Sony’s announcement, both Microsoft and Nintendo said they would not raise the prices of their consoles, Xbox and Switch.
If you’re still willing to shell out $400 for the digital-only version of the PS5 — or $500 for the disc version — here are some tips on how to get your hands on one.
And now for more news from the world of consumer technology:
Apple is going into space
Apple’s next product announcement event will be on Wednesday, September 7. It will be a live show coming from Apple headquarters in Cupertino starting at 10am PDT.
Apple likes to tease the themes of these events by dropping visual cues in the graphics that accompany its announcements, so take from this event’s “Far Out” title and starry background what you will. Perhaps this hints at some astrophotography features coming to iPhone cameras to rival what’s already in Google Pixel phones. Perhaps this is a reference to the company’s spaceship campus. Or, you know, maybe Apple just thinks space is cool.
These annual September events are usually when Apple likes to announce new iPhones, so expect to see a few iterations of the iPhone 14. Another Apple Watch or two is possible, as there are rumors of an upcoming, slightly improved “rugged” version of the the clocks have been ticking for months. Apple announced its range of new MacBooks at its WWDC event earlier this year, so chances are there won’t be anything new on the PC front this time around.
There is some MacBook news, though, as the company recently expanded its new repair program to include some Mac laptops. It only applies to the MacBook M1 and has already drawn some criticism for its limited coverage, similar to other products covered by Apple’s self-recovery program.
Meta reveals more about its next VR headset
Meta’s next VR headset is coming this October, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He announced the news on the controversial Joe Rogan Experience podcast — because of course he did. The device is rumored to be called the Quest Pro, a potentially expensive premium headset.
Although no official specifications have been released, Zuckerberg has revealed several new features of the headset. Eye and face tracking technology should capture a person’s expressions and allow them to make eye contact in VR settings. It’s all about efforts to build Zuckerberg’s ambitions in the metaverse, where he envisions humans interacting regularly in VR. Hopefully, having technology that incorporates your actual expressions and emotions will make you look less like Zuckerberg’s dead-eyed avatar.
Twitter is now podcasts
It always seems like a crazy time to be on Twitter. In addition to the ongoing drama with Elon Musk, there is a recent controversy that erupted when The Washington Post published a story about a whistleblower who accused Twitter of widespread security breaches. Still, Twitter is fighting back as if nothing happened, and this week announced a new feature: podcasts.
On Thursday, Twitter posted on its blog that it has begun including podcast content in its audio-based Spaces feature. Twitter launched Spaces following the popularity of Clubhouse and is now expanding this audio category to include professionally produced sound bites. It’ll be sort of a mix of clips you can scroll through, with podcast pieces produced by outlets like NPR and Vox Media mixed in. Twitter says it’s testing the feature with some users now, but may soon expand to everyone.
Make way for an IRA
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act allocates $400 billion to pursue green energy technologies in the US. That means tax credits, rebates and incentives for people who want to make energy-efficient upgrades. Whether you’re looking to get better home insulation, solar panels, or an electric vehicle, it’s possible to use some of these credits to help offset those costs. The only problem is that everything is still a bit complicated.
This week on the Gadget Lab podcast, WIRED writers Ariane Marshall and Matt Simon break down the Inflation Reduction Act and share tips on how you could save some money on green energy technology.
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