The PlayStation 5 Pro is expensive and it’s a tough sell to casual gamers. At $700, it costs significantly more than expected, and is a massive leap in pricing compared to its predecessor, the PlayStation 4 Pro. But according to experts whose opinion holds more weight on the matter than pretty much anyone on the internet, the PS5 Pro actually offers better value than it lets on, even if it may not necessarily be able to run games like Grand Theft Auto 6 at 60 frames per second.
As shared with IGN by Richard Leadbetter, one of Digital Foundry’s analysts, a PC with capabilities similar to the PS5 Pro would likely cost “a fair bit more.” He points out that the console’s GPU alone is comparable to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, which typically retails for around $540. When factoring in additional components such as the CPU, motherboard, memory, power supply, case, and a 2TB SSD, the total cost quickly escalates beyond the PS5 Pro’s price point.
What sets the PS5 Pro apart is its unique feature set. Leadbetter describes it as having “almost like an NVIDIA style feature set but made by AMD.” This includes enhanced ray tracing capabilities and a machine learning block, features currently absent from AMD’s consumer GPUs. This custom-designed hardware gives the PS5 Pro an edge in certain aspects of performance that you can’t just compared to off-the-shelf PC components.
However, Leadbetter makes a good point about the purpose of the PS5 Pro—it’s targeting those with disposable income who desire the best gaming experience within the PlayStation ecosystem. For long-time PlayStation users, the prospect of abandoning their existing game library to switch to PC gaming is a big no-no. The PS5 Pro solves this problem by allowing them to enjoy PC-level graphics without losing access to their favorite titles or starting from scratch on a new platform.
Leadbetter’s statement is in line with what PlayStation co-CEO Hideaki Nishino said in a recent interview. The PlayStation executive onfirmed that the PC gaming market isn’t in direct competition with or a threat to console gaming.
But while $700 is a substantial investment for a gaming console, it still represents a more affordable entry point into high-end gaming compared to building a top-tier gaming PC. The plug-and-play nature of consoles also appeals to gamers who prefer a hassle-free experience without the need for frequent hardware upgrades or software troubleshooting.
Console gaming also offers a streamlined experience with games optimized for the platform. Developers can squeeze maximum performance out of the fixed hardware configuration, often resulting in impressive visuals and smooth gameplay that’s difficult if not impossible to achieve on the PC.
It’s the reason why graphically intensive games like Black Myth: Wukong and Final Fantasy 16 can run on the base PlayStation 5 even though they’re low- to mid-end gaming PCs at best.
Ultimately, the choice between the PS5 Pro and a gaming PC depends on individual preferences, budget constraints, and gaming priorities. While the PS5 Pro offers a powerful, streamlined gaming experience within the PlayStation ecosystem, PCs provide flexibility and the potential for higher performance at a higher cost.
The success of the PS5 Pro will likely depend on how well it delivers on its promises of enhanced performance and whether audiences find the lineup of incoming PS5 Pro Enhanced titles compelling enough for the money.
