Who would’ve thought that Sony’s decision to announce that the PlayStation 5 Pro will launch at a steeper price point compared to its predecessor and without an integrated optical drive would lead to an unexpected consequence: a surge in demand for the separate PS5 Disc Drive accessory?
Priced at $79, this add-on, introduced later on in the console’s lifecycle, has quickly become a hot commodity, with several major retailers reporting depleted stock not long after the PS5 Pro’s unveiling. This rush to secure disc drives is proof that there remains a persistent desire to maintain access to physical media, despite the shift towards digital distribution. Or, you know, it’s just scalpers looking to hoard as many as they can before the PS5 Pro drops later this year.
Another point to consider is that this once “useless” accessory is now outselling the Xbox on major retailers, further highlighting the sales gap between Sony and its main competitor.
The PS5 Pro boasts significant upgrades over its predecessor, including an enhanced graphics card, advanced ray tracing capabilities, and Sony’s new AI-driven upscaling technology dubbed as the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). These aim to deliver smoother gameplay at higher resolutions, potentially eliminating the need for players to choose between fidelity and performance modes in supported games, although this probably won’t be the case with Grand Theft Auto 6. Additionally, the console comes equipped with a spacious 2TB SSD, doubling the storage capacity of the PS5 Slim model.
However, the PS5 Pro’s $699 price point has raised eyebrows. In some regions, when converted to local currencies, the cost exceeds $1000 USD, placing it well beyond the reach of many consumers. Sony’s pricing strategy, likely encouraged by the lack of direct competition, means it can comfortably sell the PS5 Pro for however much it wants.
For many consumers, the PS5 Pro’s $699 price tag effectively becomes $780 when factoring in the cost of the separate disc drive. This total investment approaches the price range of entry-level gaming laptops or handheld gaming PCs, influencing the purchasing decisions for budget-conscious gamers, and gamers in other territories where the PS5 Pro is expected to sell at a much higher price point than in the United States.
The absence of a comparable offering from Microsoft has allowed Sony to position the PS5 Pro as a premium product. Sony is leveraging this opportunity to offset the increased production costs due to supply chain inflation and boost its profit margins amidst the company’s own admissions that it’s struggling to generate profit, faced with a difficult economic climate and shifts in consumer spending habits.
Until Microsoft comes up with a competitive product, scenarios where an accessory for the PS5 will outsell all the total sales of the entire Xbox lineup on popular storefronts like Amazon US will continue.
If you’re interested in pre-ordering the PlayStation 5 Pro, the best way is via PlayStation Direct on September 26. Pre-orders for other retailers will open on October 10.
