Sony has started offering PS5 owners up to $400 for their console, and it’s doing it directly through the PlayStation app rather than a retailer. IGN reports that users with the app on their phones are receiving a notification that lets them trade in a console and have the money sent straight to their bank account. A member of the ResetEra forum spotted the message first.
The terms are narrow. The $400 figure is the most Sony will pay, and it applies to a standard PS5 sent in with two controllers. Trade-in schemes aren’t unusual around the holidays, but they usually come from retailers like GameStop. A platform holder reaching out to its own customers this way is much rarer, which is why the notification has drawn attention.
The timing is what makes people ask questions. IGN suggests the move could mean Sony is preparing for a hardware shortage, or that it wants pre-owned stock it can resell at a lower price than a new unit. That second theory fits a market where new consoles have become expensive: according to IGN, the PS5 now costs $600-650 depending on whether you choose the disc drive, and the PS5 Pro costs $900.
The Pro is the tighter squeeze. Demand has climbed in the run-up to GTA 6, and IGN says buying one at retail price has become difficult. Resellers, and even retailers such as GameStop, are listing used PS5 Pro consoles for as much as $1,400, so a buyback programme would give Sony a way to put second-hand units back into circulation on its own terms.
It also sits neatly beside other recent signals from the company. Sony has said that selling more PS5 consoles is no longer its priority, with recurring revenue from the installed base taking centre stage. We’ve also seen it testing dynamic pricing on PS5 games, which suggests the company is willing to experiment with how it deals with players directly. IGN doesn’t link the trade-in offer to either, and Sony hasn’t explained its reasoning in the coverage we’ve read.
For the owner who has a PS5 sitting unused, the numbers aren’t bad. The console launched at $500, so $400 back is a solid return, assuming you also picked up a second controller along the way. IGN adds that at a comparable point in the PS4’s life, a retailer trade-in wouldn’t have come close to that figure.
The report is in US dollars and doesn’t say which markets are getting the notification. Nothing in it confirms the offer in the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Egypt, and we haven’t seen an AED price. If you’re in the region, we recommend checking the PlayStation app for the notification before you plan around it.
Is Sony’s PS5 trade-in offer available in the UAE?
IGN’s report only covers US dollar pricing and doesn’t name the markets receiving the notification. We haven’t seen any confirmation for the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Egypt, so the PlayStation app is the place to check.
What do I need to get the full $400?
IGN says the offer is worth up to $400 for a standard PS5 handed over with two controllers. The money is paid directly into your bank account, and the report doesn’t cover whether the PS5 Pro or other bundles qualify.
Is $400 a good price for a used PS5?
It’s a strong return compared with the $500 launch price, according to IGN, as long as you have the second controller. Used PS5 Pro units are reportedly listed for up to $1,400, though, so a Pro owner can’t assume this offer reflects the resale market.
