Middle Eastern conflict ignites key chip raw materials, PS5 series consoles' prices soar.

According to U.S. media reports, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced recently that it would raise the prices of its PS5 line of consoles. This is the company’s second price adjustment in less than a year. The report said that in the U.S. market, the PS5 disc-drive version will be increased by $100, from $549.99 to $649.99 (about RMB 4,498). The digital version will also be raised by $100 to $599.99 (about RMB 4,152). Sony’s most powerful PS5 Pro model will be increased by $150, bringing the price to $899.99 (about RMB 6,228). Sony said that price adjustments of varying degrees have also been made in markets including China, Japan, and Europe. Some analysts noted that, due to rising memory prices, this increase is unavoidable. In addition, the Associated Press reported that although Sony did not explicitly mention the specific reason for the price hikes, a prior Iranian attack on Qatar’s liquefied natural gas export facilities forced shutdowns and threatened the supply of helium, a key input for computer chip production. According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, Qatar supplies one-third of the world’s helium. QatarEnergy previously said that the closure of the facility will reduce the country’s helium export volume by 14%. Analysts pointed out that reduced helium supply will push up its price, and if the conflict lasts for several months or longer, the extent of the price increase will likely expand further. (CCTV Finance)