Sony kicks off Days of Play 2026 on May 27th with discounts on hardware accessories and up to 33 percent off PlayStation Plus memberships. The annual sale runs until June 10th at 23:59 PM.
The announcement focuses on hardware offers, targeted software upgrades for the subscription service, and tournaments with prizes in kind and cash. Sony is using the established promotional period to boost hardware sales in the current quarter. The strategy is calculated.
Hardware discounts and direct sales bonuses
The official price reductions primarily affect PlayStation 5 peripherals, not the console itself. Sony is reducing the price of the PlayStation VR2 by €100 for the promotional period. The Pulse Explore and Pulse Elite audio interfaces are being reduced by €50 and €40, respectively. The customizable DualSense Edge controller is receiving a €30 discount, while the standard DualSense controllers are being reduced by up to €20.
For the European market, Sony is shifting its focus more strongly to its own sales platform, direct.playstation.com. In Germany, Austria, and other Western European countries, active PlayStation Plus members receive an additional 5 percent discount on PS5 consoles and accessories when purchased through the manufacturer's own store. Shipping and returns are free during this period.
PlayStation Plus: June game lineup brought forward
The monthly games at PlayStation Plus As part of this promotion, Sony will unlock the June lineup on June 2nd. The selection includes Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition, Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. EA Sports FC 26, released in May, will also be extended until June 16th, accompanied by an in-game update on June 4th that integrates an international tournament mode.
Subscribers to the Extra and Premium tiers will gain access to the "Destiny 2: Legacy Collection" (2025), which includes the expansion The Final Shape, starting June 9. For the Premium tier, Sony is also unlocking trial versions of over 40 indie titles, including Cairn, Balatro, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. New and returning customers will receive up to a 33 percent discount when signing up for a 12-month subscription. The same percentage applies to existing members upgrading to the Extra or Premium tiers.
Esports tournaments with a $200.000 prize pool
Sony is linking the sales promotion to a series of tournaments via the integrated PlayStation tournament feature. Supported games include Gran Turismo 7, Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, and Fortnite. While Gran Turismo 7 participants will only receive cosmetic vehicle liveries, the Fortnite Days of Play Cup will award a global cash prize pool totaling $200.000.
EA's sports games and Mortal Kombat 1 feature "Golden Tournaments" that double the in-game currency awarded for victories. Each tournament entry also qualifies players for a prize draw where hardware bundles consisting of a PlayStation Portal, DualSense Edge controller, and store credit are up for grabs.
Sony delivers with the Days of Play 2026 It's the expected standard program, but it leverages the right levers. The discounts on PS VR2 and the DualSense Edge are substantial, as both products rarely see significant price drops in regular retail. The additional 5 percent discount for PS Plus members through direct sales is an aggressive attempt to bypass intermediaries.
Those who were already planning to upgrade their subscription or purchase premium accessories will find the sale significantly cheaper. Those solely interested in buying software will wait to see if the PSN Store prices can compete with retail prices.
Ah, nice, selling hardware at old prices and then calling it a sale – that's my sense of humor.
Everything is/has become more expensive these days, even technology… Everyone else is allowed to raise prices, but not Sony? Get a grip.
Why so serious?