PS5 Hardware Sales Hit 2026 Highs Ahead of Price Increase - IGN Daily Fix

Sony's PlayStation hardware sales have surged following the announcement of price hikes for the PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal, effective April 2nd. US weekly unit and dollar sales for PS5 hardware reached 2026 highs during the week ending April 4th, with the bulk of sales likely occurring before the price increase. This suggests that the deadline incentivized consumers to purchase hardware, although a sharp drop-off in sales is anticipated in subsequent weeks. Upcoming titles like GTA 6 and Wolverine, along with holiday shopping, are expected to drive future sales. In other news, rumored details about the next God of War game, a follow-up to Ragnarok, suggest it will focus on Kratos's late wife Fay and explore multiple mythologies, including Chinese, Japanese, and potentially Mayan themes. Previous rumors described the project as an action-focused take on the veteran franchise, with Bloomberg reporter Jason Shrier noting it's "not a new IP, but it might feel like one." The game is reportedly planned for a 2027 launch, with an unveiling expected this year. Kratos's voice actor, Christopher Judge, also hinted at a summer reveal. Sony Santa Monica is also working on remakes of the original God of War trilogy. For PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers, new games are being added next week, starting April 21st. PS5 owners will receive Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, while PS4 owners get Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. Both platforms will have access to The Crew Motorfest and Warriors Abyss. PS5 exclusive titles include Football Manager 26 Console, Squirrel with a Gun, The Casting of Frank Stone, and Monster Train. Premium subscribers also gain access to Wild Arms 4, a PS2 RPG now playable on PS4 and PS5. Additionally, the Humble Choice bundle for this month includes PC games such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Damon X Machina, and Lord of the Rings: Return of Moria. Proceeds from this bundle support Reverb, a nonprofit dedicated to making live music more environmentally friendly.