PlayStation Releasing Japan-Exclusive Midnight Black PS5 For $350

Published Oct 13, 2026, 5:28 AM EDT Josh Coulson is an editor at TheGamer covering breaking news on everything from colorful platformers to the latest Lego sets. Primarily a news writer since 2018, Josh has covered just about every major game from the past decade. Now an editor, their focus has shifted to being the leading affiliate expert at the site, building relationships between TheGamer and global brands including Mattel, Funko, and The Pokemon Company. PlayStation just revealed a new color option for the PS5, and it only costs $350. There’s a catch, though, and it’s a big one that renders the console useless for almost everyone. Not only will the new model only be available in Japan, but it’s a “Japanese Only” model, similar to the budget Switch 2 that’s also available in Japan. PlayStation Revealed via the Japanese version of the PlayStation Blog, the Midnight Black version of the PS5 digital edition costs 55,000 yen. That’s a little less than $350 based on the current exchange rate. The console will be released on November 19, 2026. That’s the same day as GTA 6, which is almost certainly not a coincidence. The console will be added to a Japanese Only collection of PS5 consoles that are only available in Japan. The key differences are that the console can only be used when its country/region is set to Japan, and when the system language is set to Japanese. Pre-orders for the Midnight Black PS5 will begin next week on October 20, at which point a matching external disc drive will also be available. Interesting not only because PlayStation seemingly still plans to end disc production starting in 2028, but also because GTA 6, which again, appears to be the leading reason for this console’s release, won’t be available on a disc. Japanese-Only Consoles Give One Of The World's Biggest Gaming Markets A Budget Option PlayStation Releasing Japan-exclusive versions of consoles has quickly become a common practice, with Nintendo leading the way. The Switch 2 is the first major console to have launched during the ongoing RAM shortage. To help remedy that, and ensure a huge part of its potential player base could afford the console, it released a Switch 2 in Japan that has the same locked settings as the Midnight Black PS5. PlayStation has already followed suit by releasing a PS5 model that’s only available in Japan, now it has confirmed plans to add a Midnight Black version to the collection. What’s odd about this new addition is that the Midnight Black console isn’t available elsewhere, at a budget price or otherwise. Midnight Black faceplates have been available for a while, with matching accessories, but not the console itself. Despite launching on the same day as GTA 6, the blog post revealing the new PS5 model doesn’t mention Rockstar’s new blockbuster. It actually notes that the console is being released to mark six years since the launch of the original PS5, pointing potential customers in the direction of PlayStation-published games such as Wolverine, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and the upcoming God of War Laufey. Brand Sony Original Release Date November 12, 2020 Original MSRP (USD) $499, €499, £449, ¥49,980 (Base) / $399, €399, £359, ¥39,980 (Digital), Operating System Orbis OS Processor Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5 GHz Resolution 720p - 8K