Sony’s recent unveiling of the PlayStation 5 Pro hasn’t gone well, leaving many to question the necessity and value of this mid-generation console upgrade.
Set to launch on November 7 with a heftier-than-expected price tag of $699.99, the PS5 Pro promises enhanced performance and visual fidelity. However, instead of the usual welcoming arms that usually greet Sony’s announcements, equal parts doubt, and criticism surrounded Sony’s decision to release a console that’s more expensive than the PlayStation 3 when adjusted for inflation when you include the price of the external disc drive.
The reveal, led by PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny, focused heavily on technical specifications and incremental improvements. The PS5 Pro boasts a GPU with 67% more Compute Units than its predecessor, 28% faster memory, and claims to offer up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay. Sony also emphasized the advanced ray tracing capabilities of the console and the introduction of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-driven upscaling technology.
These technical advancements are awesome on paper, but to justify the steep price point, Sony needed to showcase why the upgrade was necessary. The absence of a compelling lineup of new games specifically designed to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s capabilities leaves room to question the console’s immediate value proposition.
To make matters worse, Sony omitted the disc drive from the PS5 Pro. The option to purchase a separate disc drive adds further cost to an already expensive package, especially in non-US territories like Europe and Japan, the latter of which has already seen a steep price hike for the PS5 ahead of the unveiling.
In the UK, the PS5 Pro is priced at £700, equivalent to USD$914, while in the EU, it’s set at €800 or $882 USD. These significant price differences are causing understandable frustration among international consumers.
With consumers becoming increasingly budget-conscious, the choice between what could very well be a non-impactful $700 upgrade to an existing platform and a potentially more innovative new console from a competitor like the incoming Nintendo Switch 2 could prove challenging for Sony.
The PS5 Pro might have benefitted from a more prominent showcase with first-party exclusives, even if they’re a ways off. Instead, the announcement’s standalone nature and the rehashing of existing titles have left audiences feeling underwhelmed. The PS5 Pro must now prove its worth through real-world performance and exclusive experiences that truly leverage its enhanced capabilities.
While Sony has announced that several games will receive free “PS5 Pro Enhanced” updates, including titles such as Alan Wake 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and The Last of Us Part II Remastered, it remains to be seen whether these optimizations will be substantial enough to sway potential buyers who might look elsewhere this holiday season.
With preorders set to begin on September 26, the company will need to address concerns about pricing, game library, and tangible benefits to secure its position in an increasingly competitive gaming market.
But, at least the PlayStation Portal is selling well, so Sony has something for PS5 owners who won’t likely upgrade to the PS5 Pro anytime soon to consider.
