The PlayStation 5 debuted in the UK nearly five and a half years ago with a price tag of \u00a3449. Today, purchasing the console at its suggested retail price would set you back \u00a3569.99, while the upgraded Pro version costs \u00a3789.99. Recently, Sony announced an additional price increase of \u00a390, marking the latest in a series of hikes. This trend is unusual, as gaming consoles typically see price reductions over time, except when they become retro collectibles\u2014just the other day, I noticed a SNES being sold for \u00a3200 on Vinted. So, what is driving these increases?<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, this situation can be largely attributed to the demands of artificial intelligence. AI data centers require substantial computing resources to function, which has resulted in a spike in prices for RAM and storage. However, this isn’t the sole reason for rising costs; geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have disrupted global markets, and rampant inflation has negatively impacted numerous businesses. Nonetheless, AI is a more accessible target for frustration, as its impact feels more avoidable.<\/p>\n
As former Kotaku writer Chris Person aptly stated via Aftermath: \u201cI\u2019m tired of these useless jackasses making the computer expensive.\u201d PC gamers have been particularly affected by the recent turmoil in the tech industry, with Nvidia recently emerging as the world’s most valuable company due to its AI investments and previous ties to crypto mining. In October, Nvidia’s market capitalization soared to a staggering \u00a35 trillion, while its high-end graphics cards now retail for over \u00a31,000. While shareholders may be rejoicing, consumers looking to purchase components for gaming are facing steep prices.<\/p>\n
Sony’s price hikes illustrate that the effects are not limited to PC gamers. Valve has reportedly run out of Steam Decks and is struggling to produce more units. There are growing concerns that the anticipated Steam Machine may never reach the market, as the notion of creating an affordable gaming PC seems increasingly unrealistic. Additionally, Nintendo has reduced its production of Switch 2 consoles and recently increased the price of physical games in the U.S. by $10.<\/p>\n
It would be unjust to solely blame Sony for these price increases, as they align with the overall inflation trends observed over the past six years. However, the cost of living has surged nearly 30% in just over five years, with the AI boom contributing to this rise. While no single individual or corporation can manage global macroeconomic factors, it is evident that a small group of affluent individuals are profiting immensely by imposing unwanted technology upon us, while the products we desire become increasingly unaffordable. We are paying more for a PlayStation so that others can utilize ChatGPT to mislead people on dating apps.<\/p>\n
As Person articulates, these individuals do not truly appreciate computers. He reflects in his piece for Aftermath: \u201cI grew up making computers. I enjoy jailbreaking closed hardware that would otherwise become e-waste, like robot vacuums and Amazon devices, and giving them a second life as something ethical \u2026 the rabid adherents of AI do not love computers; perhaps they never did. They love money and having a mistake-prone LLM do their work for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
This situation transcends mere corporate greed. It highlights the underlying issues plaguing the tech industry\u2014a closed economic structure that seems designed to exacerbate hardships for the majority in order to enrich a select few.<\/p>\n
As a brief diversion from the serious topics discussed, I recommend Hozy, a relaxing game focused on cleaning, renovating, and decorating various rooms. It’s reminiscent of Unpacking but features improved lighting effects and a more extensive furniture selection. Players start each level by clearing out debris and removing floorboards, ultimately finishing by placing a radio on a charming table in a newly painted corner. While it may lack the narrative depth of Unpacking, it offers a delightful experience for those who enjoy organizing spaces. Following my experience with it, I downloaded Furnish Master, as Steam is currently holding a sale on similar games.<\/p>\n
Available on: PC
\nEstimated playtime: three hours<\/p>\n
The highly anticipated Super Mario Galaxy Movie has premiered today, featuring a straightforward storyline complemented by a plethora of Nintendo character cameos and vibrant action sequences. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw describes it as \u201ca bland screensaver of a movie,\u201d so prepare for light entertainment aimed at Nintendo fans.<\/p>\n
This in-depth article about the speedrunning group Awesome Games Done Quick illustrates that a better gaming community is achievable.<\/p>\n
Did you know there was a 90s adventure game centered on exploring the home of a prince?<\/p>\n
Including online gaming in social media bans is impractical, unnecessary, and could adversely affect young people | Keza MacDonald<\/p>\n
Simulation games: I want to escape to a video rental store in the 1990s | Dominik Diamond<\/p>\n
Sony to increase PS5 prices by $100 as AI and geopolitical conflicts drive up memory chip expenses.<\/p>\n
The CEO of Epic Games has issued an apology after terminating an employee with terminal brain cancer.<\/p>\n
In case you missed it: What was Doge? A podcast discussing Elon Musk’s attempts to gamify government.<\/p>\n
This week’s question comes from Graham:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a fellow parent, I\u2019m curious about your thoughts on Roblox. Do you believe it provides something beneficial for young gamers? A limitless realm of creativity and socialization? I personally harbor reservations about it, largely due to People Make Games\u2019 coverage of its exploitative environment for creators. Additionally, I worry about online interactions and the prevailing opinion that Roblox experiences resemble virtual junk food. Am I being too narrow-minded?\u201d<\/p>\n
I recently penned a column discussing whether online video games should fall under child social media bans, and Roblox frequently comes up in that dialogue. (For those blissfully unaware, Roblox is the most popular gaming platform for creating and playing games.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The PlayStation 5 debuted in the UK nearly five and a half years ago with a price tag of \u00a3449. Today, purchasing the console at its suggested retail price would set you back \u00a3569.99, while the upgraded Pro version costs \u00a3789.99. Recently, Sony announced an additional price increase of \u00a390, marking the latest in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4148,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[157,903,902,631,247,901,900,898,899,605,88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-ai-artificial-intelligence","category-uk-chatgpt","category-uk-computing","category-uk-culture","category-uk-games","category-uk-games-consoles","category-uk-playstation","category-uk-playstation-5","category-uk-sony","category-uk-technology","category-uk"],"yoast_head":"\n