Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has begun sending messages to some users of the PlayStation app offering to buy back used PS5 consoles. The offer is reportedly $400 for a standard console bundled with two controllers.
The initiative is available only in some territories. Sony has not launched a similar program in Brazil, and there is no indication that it plans to do so there for now. The source report notes that retailers in various countries commonly buy used consoles, but says this is the first time Sony and Microsoft have stepped in with buyback offers of their own.
The move comes as the report points to strong interest in consoles ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled to arrive on November 19, 2026. It also cites new-console prices of $600 to $650 and limited Xbox availability in stores as factors shaping the market. The possibility of hardware shortages is presented as one explanation for the companies’ efforts to return used systems to circulation, though neither Sony nor Microsoft has confirmed that reasoning.
Microsoft reportedly sent a similar offer to some users last week, seeking to buy back Xbox Series X consoles. The report also says Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged production problems. It suggests the offers may target people who use their consoles infrequently, with the systems potentially resold to customers who could spend more on subscriptions or games. That proposed business rationale has not been confirmed by either company.
Sources: Canaltech.