After years of speculation and rumors, Sony has finally pulled back the curtain on the long-rumored PlayStation 5 Pro, confirming its existence and revealing details about the upgraded console.
In a concise nine-minute presentation led by PlayStation’s lead architect Mark Cerny, the tech giant unveiled the specs, features, and release information for their mid-generation hardware refresh, which is proving to be a tough sell so far.
The PS5 Pro hits shelves on November 7, with pre-orders opening on September 26. The new console will come with a hefty price tag of $699.99 / £699.99 / €799.99, a sign of its position as a premium option for dedicated gamers and early adopters. This price point includes a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a pre-installed copy of Astro’s Playroom, the prequel to this year’s leading Game of the Year candidate, Astro Bot.
However, the PS5 Pro comes with a notable omission: a built-in disc drive. The console will be available as a digital-only version out of the box, with players having the option to purchase a separate removable Blu-ray drive compatible with the PS5 Slim for an additional cost. The decision will disappoint gamers who prefer physical media, have extensive disc-based game libraries, or use or plan to use the PS5 as a media player.
With console sales generally down across the industry, it’s fair to question the decision to introduce a premium-priced upgrade that doesn’t have too many games to justify its existence. The $200 markup over the base PS5 model (more in countries like Japan), coupled with the additional cost for those who want disc compatibility, positions the PS5 Pro as a niche but completely unnecessary product until the likes of Grand Theft Auto 6 hits the physical and digital storeshelves.
Despite these potential hurdles, Sony seems confident in the PS5 Pro’s appeal. The ability to run games at higher frame rates while maintaining top-quality graphical fidelity remains a significant selling point for those who demand the best possible gaming experience.
Given the PS5 Pro’s history of console shortages and high demand for new gaming hardware, it’s best to expect a “pre-order battle” to take place if you want to secure your PS5 Pro as early as possible.
While it’s unlikely to reach the same levels of scarcity as the base PS5 did at launch, you’ll want to take note of these retailers for when the PS5 Pro pre-orders go live:
Pre-orders for the PS5 Pro outside of the official PlayStation Direct link will only be available on October 10, so if you want to secure yours ahead of everyone else, go straight to the console manufacturer.
