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.