Why is gaming becoming so expensive? The answer is found in AI

We are paying more for a PlayStation so that idiots can use ChatGPT to mislead people on dating apps - something is rotten in the state of gaming

Don't get Pushing Buttons delivered to your inbox? Sign up here

When the PlayStation 5 launched almost five and a half years ago, it was listed at 449 in the UK. If you were to buy one at the recommended retail price today, it would be 569.99, or 789.99 for the updated Pro model. Sony has just raised the price of its console by another 90, the latest in a series of hikes. This is unprecedented: consoles have always decreased in price over time (until they become retro collectibles - the other day, I saw someone asking 200 for a SNES on Vinted). So, what's going on?

Unfortunately, this is another case of artificial intelligence ruining things for everyone. AI data centres need lots and lots and lots of computing power to be able to present you with lies whenever you Google anything, and this has pushed up demand and pricing for RAM and storage. This isn't the only reason prices are rising - the wars in Ukraine and Iran have caused global economic disruption, and rampant inflation has eaten into many companies' bottom line. But AI is the cause that's easiest to get angry about, because it doesn't need to be this way.