Sony has announced a Midnight Black version of its Japan-only PS5 Digital Edition through the Japanese PlayStation Blog. It goes on sale November 19 for ¥55,000 (roughly $350) including tax, the same day GTA 6 launches, and Sony mentions the game right alongside the console in its announcement. Pre-orders open October 20 at PlayStation retailers and online stores in Japan.
The new model, CFI-2200B02S, carries the same restrictions as the white Japan-only version released last November. The system language is locked to Japanese, and the console only works with PlayStation accounts registered in Japan. Otherwise it is a regular PS5 Digital Edition with an 825 GB SSD. A matching Midnight Black disc drive also launches November 19 for ¥11,980 (about $76).
The pricing stands out. When Sony raised PS5 prices worldwide in April, the Japan-only model stayed at ¥55,000 (~$350), while the standard Digital Edition in Japan jumped to ¥89,980 (~$570). In the US, the Digital Edition now sells for $599.99, so the region lock appears aimed mainly at preventing exports of these units.
Sony also reiterated that new PlayStation games will be digital only from January 2028. That message sits awkwardly alongside a brand-new disc drive, especially since physical copies still generate a sizeable share of revenue for its biggest exclusives. There is no word on a release outside Japan, and with US console prices at record highs, the cheaper black PS5 is likely to remain a Japan-only affair.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing