PS5 swap from Sony: up to $400 cash

With the PS5 trade-in campaign, Sony started offering some PlayStation 5 owners in the USA to exchange their consoles for cash. Additionally, according to notifications seen in the PlayStation application, users can receive payments of up to $400. Moreover, the money is deposited directly into the bank account, not as PlayStation Store credit. Therefore, the offer is important for those who want real cash instead of store balance.

Who gets $400 in the PS5 trade-in campaign?

First of all, according to screenshots shared on the ResetEra forum, Sony is working with Back Market, which buys and sells second-hand electronics. Accordingly, it is Back Market's job to examine the console and determine its value. On the other hand, Sony allows users to easily dispose of their consoles.

But the $400 amount isn't for everyone. Because this figure is the upper limit for a package that includes a standard PS5 in very good condition and at least two controllers. In other words, the condition of the console and its accessories directly affect the money to be received.

The final payment also varies depending on the console's model, physical condition and storage capacity. Moreover, the accessories sent with it are also taken into account. However, PS5 Pro models are excluded from the campaign.

However, some users are reporting that they are receiving quotes of just over $400 for the standard PS5 from the online price calculator. However, the final amount depends on what the calculation tool gives.

Microsoft also offered a similar offer

Sony's move follows a similar campaign launched by Microsoft last month. As a matter of fact, Microsoft sent an e-mail to the owners of Xbox consoles that have not been used for a long time. The offer also included up to $375 trade-in for Series X models through Best Buy.

However, in Microsoft's offer, payment is made only with Best Buy eGift Card. Sony, on the other hand, gives cash directly. For this reason, the PS5 trade-in campaign may be more attractive for some users. In addition, the offers of the two companies differ from each other in terms of payment method.

Why is timing important?

The timing of the campaign is also interesting. Because after the price hikes, the prices of the new PS5 consoles have increased. Also, there is very little time left until the release of GTA 6.

In this table, the demand for second-hand consoles is expected to increase. For now, however, the campaign is only showing to some PS5 owners in the US. So not every PS5 owner can see the offer. Finally, the bid amount is learned through the price calculation tool via the notification in the PlayStation application.