Sony has announced the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in Midnight Black, a Japan-only console that goes on sale on November 19, 2026 for ¥55,000 including tax. The reveal came on October 13, 2026 through the PlayStation Japan Blog, and the console arrives on the same day as Grand Theft Auto VI.

Key points:

  • The Midnight Black PS5 Digital Edition is a Japan-only release on November 19, 2026.
  • It costs ¥55,000 (tax included), with pre-orders opening October 20, 2026.
  • The system language is locked to Japanese, and the PlayStation Network account must be set to Japan.
  • A Midnight Black disc drive is sold separately for ¥11,980 and also launches November 19.
  • No release for Western markets has been announced.

Midnight Black PS5 Digital Edition: price, release date and specs

According to PlayStation.Blog Japan, the console goes on sale at a suggested retail price of ¥55,000, tax included. As a Digital Edition, it ships without a disc drive. It has an 825GB SSD and comes with one DualSense wireless controller. The model number is CFI-2200B02S.

Pre-orders begin on October 20, 2026 at PlayStation retailers and online stores in Japan. The console then goes on sale on November 19, 2026.

Players who want to use discs can buy a Midnight Black disc drive for ¥11,980, tax included. It also launches on November 19, 2026, and it lets the console play physical disc-based games.

Background: Japan-only PS5 models

According to Video Games Chronicle, the Japan-exclusive PS5 Digital Edition line was first announced in November 2025. The aim was to grow the PlayStation audience in Japan with subsidized pricing. Gematsu notes that Sony previously released a standard white Digital Edition for Japan only in November 2025.

The Midnight Black model continues that approach. VGC describes it as region-locked and priced at ¥55,000, below standard prices in other regions.

The timing is notable. The PS5 launched on November 12, 2020, and will reach its fifth anniversary on November 12, 2026. Separately, PlayStation Japan Blog and Gematsu report that Sony has announced a plan to end physical game disc production in January 2028, meaning new games from then on will be digital-only.

What it means for players outside Japan

The key point is that the console is only usable in Japan. Because the system language is locked to Japanese and the PSN account must be set to Japan, it cannot be used normally elsewhere. Games must be downloaded from the Japan PlayStation Store, and PS4 backward compatibility is supported.

For Vietnam, Sony has not announced any sale or official distribution of this model. VGC also reports that the Midnight Black console is so far confirmed only for Japan, with nothing announced for Western markets.

Players who simply want a black look have one option: the PlayStation 5 Console Cover in Midnight Black, which is already on sale. VGC points to it as a way for Western players to get a similar aesthetic.

What comes next

The next milestone is October 20, 2026, when pre-orders open in Japan. After that comes November 19, 2026, when both the console and the disc drive reach stores, on the same day as Grand Theft Auto VI.

If Sony brings the model to other regions, players will need to wait for an official announcement. The verified sources contain no such plan so far.

「希望小売価格55,000円（税込）で発売します。」 — PlayStation.Blog Japan

FAQ

When does the Midnight Black PS5 launch and how much does it cost?

It goes on sale on November 19, 2026 in Japan for ¥55,000, tax included. Pre-orders begin on October 20, 2026.

Can I use this console outside Japan?

According to the sources, the system language is locked to Japanese and the PSN account must be set to Japan, so it cannot be used outside the country. Games must also come from the Japan PlayStation Store.

Does it come with a disc drive?

No. It is a Digital Edition with an 825GB SSD. A Midnight Black disc drive is available separately for ¥11,980 to play physical games.