In a surprising political commentary, California Governor Gavin Newsom has pointed fingers at former U.S. President Donald Trump for the recent price increases on PlayStation 5 consoles across the United States. Using his Twitter platform, Newsom directly called out the former president, suggesting that Trump's economic policies—particularly his emphasis on tariffs—are responsible for making gaming more expensive for American consumers.

Sony officially announced through a PlayStation Blog post that starting August 21, 2025, all PlayStation 5 models would see price increases specifically in the U.S. market. The standard PS5 now retails for approximately $550, representing a $50 increase, while the Digital Edition reaches $500 and the premium PS5 Pro model jumps to $750. This marks a significant departure from typical console pricing patterns, where prices usually decrease over time rather than increase.

Newsom's social media response came the same day as Sony's announcement. Sharing a New York Post tweet about the price changes, the California governor sarcastically commented, 'Great work, @realDonaldTrump!!' This public criticism aligns with Newsom's emerging role as a prominent Democratic voice potentially positioning for future presidential considerations, alongside figures like former vice president Kamala Harris and former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.

While Sony's official statement cited 'a challenging economic environment' as the reason for the price adjustments without specifically mentioning tariffs, financial analysts have been warning about potential impacts on the video game industry since before Trump's second term began in January. The Consumer Technology Association had previously projected that gaming consoles could see price increases of up to 69.4 percent due to proposed tariff structures.

The PlayStation 5 isn't the only gaming system experiencing price inflation in the U.S. market. Nintendo implemented similar increases on August 3, raising prices for various Switch models and accessories by $30 to $50 depending on the product. While the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 has not yet been affected by these pricing changes, company president Shuntaro Furukawa has indicated that Nintendo is closely monitoring market conditions, leaving open the possibility of future price adjustments.

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