PS5 rentals are booming in Japan—fans can borrow the console for just $12.50 for two weeks

Gamers have sought alternative solutions to enjoying the PS5 experience. One of those includes renting out gaming consoles from sellers. The price of the recent PlayStation series has continued to rise against expectations, and renting out has become a viable alternative to incurring the high cost of purchase.

According to Dexerto on X, gamers in Japan can rent out a PlayStation 5 console for two weeks at roughly $12.50. Netizens have agreed that it's a good deal.

The popularity of renting gaming consoles comes after SONY announced an increase in the cost of the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation Plus. A statement by Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing, Sony Interactive Entertainment, read:

"With a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, SIE has made the tough decision to raise the recommended retail price (RRP) of the PlayStation 5 console in select markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Australia and New Zealand."

Gamers in these regions can purchase PlayStation 5 Digital Editions for as high as AUD 749.95 and NZD 859.95. This is the second time SONY has increased the price of the PS5, having done so in 2022.

More details on the increased renting of the PS5 in Japan and other parts of the world

Research conducted by IT Media News in Japan revealed that retailer GEO began renting PlayStation 5s earlier in the year due to the limited availability of the console in the region, and it had “gotten more popular than they expected.” The retailer added that the release of the popular game series Monster Hunter Wilds had spurred an increased demand for the renting service.

The service, which is operated by 400 stores in Japan, provides two rental options for gamers. They either rent the PS5 console for 8 days at a price of ¥980 or $6.62 or rent it for 15 days for ¥1,780 or $12.02 before returning it to the store.

Similarly, Raylo, a UK leasing agency, leases digital or standard PS5 consoles, PlayStation VR2 headsets, PlayStation Portal handhelds, and PS5 Pro consoles for a month. They also rent out for a longer period—12 months, 24 months, or 36 months, depending on the player’s choice and payment plan.

The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is rented for £21.95 per month. For longer periods of rent, the gamer pays £16.49, £11.99, or £10.99 monthly for 12, 24 or 36 months, respectively.

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The increased popularity of renting PlayStation 5 consoles has been attributed to the continuous increase in its pricing since its release in 2020.

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