There was a time when buying a new console felt like a milestone. You would check your bank balance twice, justify the expense, swipe your card, and walk out of the store holding that box like a trophy. Fast forward to 2026, and even that ritual is changing.
Now, Sony is testing a different approach in one of its biggest markets by letting gamers lease a PlayStation 5 instead of purchasing it outright.
A subscription style twist for PlayStation fans
In the United Kingdom, Sony has teamed up with Raylo, a London based fintech firm known for electronics leasing, to introduce a new program called PlayStation Flex. The idea is simple. Instead of paying hundreds of pounds upfront for a console, you sign up for a monthly subscription and receive the hardware with no initial payment.
According to the official PlayStation Flex page, users can choose from multiple lease terms, including 12, 24, or 36 month contracts. As expected, the longer the commitment, the lower the monthly cost.
For example, the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition with 825GB of storage and a DualSense Wireless Controller starts at just £9.95 per month on a 36 month plan. Opt for 24 months and the monthly fee rises slightly to £10.49. A 12 month commitment costs £14.59 per month.
There is also a rolling monthly option priced at £19.49, giving users the flexibility to cancel anytime. Naturally, that convenience comes at a higher price.
If you are curious about how the standard PS5 compares in features and performance, you can check out the official overview on the PlayStation website.
What you get with the lease
On paper, the benefits look attractive. The PlayStation Flex program promises free next day delivery, a 14 day return window, and even a lifetime warranty while you remain subscribed. That removes some of the typical stress that comes with electronics ownership.
When your lease term ends, you are not locked into one outcome. You can upgrade to a newer console without an upgrade fee, continue paying monthly, purchase the device outright, or simply return it.
Financially, it creates an interesting comparison. Buying a PS5 in the UK typically costs between £350 and £400. Over a 36 month lease at £9.95 per month, the total comes close to that same range. The difference is that you never have to make a large upfront payment.
For gamers who prefer spreading out costs, especially during uncertain economic times, that flexibility can be appealing. It mirrors the shift we have seen with streaming services and smartphone upgrade programs. Even the gaming industry itself has moved toward subscriptions with services like PlayStation Plus and cloud based libraries.
The fine print you should know
While the headline numbers sound almost too generous, there is an important detail. Raylo performs a soft credit check as part of the sign up process. A soft check does not affect your credit score in the same way a hard inquiry does, but it still means approval is not guaranteed.
This is likely one reason the article hints that not everyone may be able to get one immediately. Eligibility depends on the credit assessment process.
The PlayStation Flex page claims you can complete the sign up in about 60 seconds and receive the console the very next day. However, as with most financing or leasing programs, the final decision rests on your individual profile.
If you want to understand how credit checks work in the UK, resources like Experian explain the difference between soft and hard searches in detail.
A strategy to widen adoption
From a business perspective, this could be a smart move. The PlayStation 5 has already been a commercial success, but lowering the entry barrier might attract gamers who have hesitated due to the upfront cost.
Instead of waiting months to save up, players can jump into next generation gaming for less than £10 a month, at least on a long term plan. That is a powerful psychological shift. The console feels less like a luxury purchase and more like another manageable subscription alongside Netflix or Spotify.
Sony has not confirmed whether PlayStation Flex will expand beyond the UK. For now, it remains a regional experiment. But if adoption rates are strong and default risks remain low, it would not be surprising to see similar programs introduced in other markets.
With hardware prices rising and consumer habits shifting toward subscription based models, leasing a console may no longer sound unusual. It may simply be the next step in how gamers access high end technology without the traditional upfront splurge.
