Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is finally ready for its global reveal and eventual release, a little over two years after the initial rumors broke out that Sony is doing exactly what it did with the PlayStation 4 with a mid-cycle upgrade. However, the PS5 Pro’s arrival comes shortly after Sony just said that the PS5 is already in the “latter stages of its life cycle,” even if it feels like it’s barely scratched the surface of what it could do. Thus, many are wondering what the PS5 Pro means for the PS5 and what kind of changes everyone should expect.
Earlier this year, Sony confirmed that it had trouble generating profit and it will now “put more emphasis on the balance between profitability and sales,” leaving many to try and read between the lines.
One of the key aspects to consider is the current state of the PS5. Released in 2020, the console has been a powerhouse in the gaming world, offering impressive next-gen performance and a solid library of games. It’s capable of running most games at 60 fps, with some titles even supporting 120 fps. This begs the question: what more could a PS5 Pro offer that would justify its existence and price tag? Perhaps, more importantly, what can the PS5 Pro do that the PS5 can’t over the next four years, as Sony is presumed to be already preparing for a 2028 release of the PlayStation 6?
Rumors suggest that the PS5 Pro could feature a significant GPU upgrade, with its performance being comparable to high-end PC graphics cards like the AMD Radeon 7700 XT or Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti. While this sounds impressive on paper, it’s worth considering how much of a difference this would make in real-world gaming scenarios, especially for those who don’t own high-end 4K or 8K displays.
Another rumored feature is Sony’s “PSSR” super sampling technology, which could be the console equivalent of Nvidia’s DLSS. This technology could potentially boost performance and image quality, but it remains to be seen how effective it would be and whether it would be a significant selling point for the average gamer.
The timing of a potential PS5 Pro release is also a point of contention. With both of its competitors, Microsoft and Nintendo, rumored to be releasing new products this year, Sony might feel pressured to respond with something of their own. However, given that the PS5 is still relatively new in console years after spending half of its lifecycle being unavailable due to production issues caused by a global pandemic, is now really the right time for a Pro version?
One of the main arguments against the need for a PS5 Pro is the current state of the video game industry. Many titles are still being released for both PS4 and PS5, such as Techland’s upcoming game, Dying Light: The Beast, meaning they’re designed to run on older hardware. Even PS5 exclusives haven’t pushed the boundaries of what the current console can do to such an extent that a more powerful version seems necessary. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Black Myth: Wukong might benefit from the power of the PS5 Pro but won’t it just give developers an excuse to release half-complete and unoptimized games?
For all of the game’s accolades and sales, Game Science’s debut title still requires an insane amount of work to make it run smoothly all the time on multiple platforms, especially the PS5.
Just as the Xbox Series S can help developers discover ways to better optimize their games on lesser hardware, the PS5 Pro might incentivize studios to gun for the best performance possible on consoles at the expense of proper optimization.
This might not happen often, as it would definitely result in warranted backlash, but it’s not impossible either.
For those who already own a PS5, the decision to upgrade to the PS5 Pro depends on individual circumstances. Hardcore enthusiasts who always want the latest and best will not want to miss out, but for many, the improvements may not justify the cost. It’s worth remembering that Sony has historically supported its consoles for many years, even after new models are released.
Price will be a crucial factor in the success of any potential PS5 Pro. With the current economic climate and the already significant investment required for the PS5, Sony would need to price a Pro model carefully to make it an attractive option. If the rumored release price is above $550, it might be a hard sell for most.
For first-time PS5 buyers, waiting for a PS5 Pro model makes sense if they’re after an industry-leading console, or they can afford the steeper price point in exchange for a better, more future-proof console with more features and possibly better cooling. However, for current PS5 owners, the decision is less clear-cut.
Ultimately, the success of a PS5 Pro will depend on Mark Cenry’s ability to clearly communicate its benefits and provide compelling reasons for both new and existing PS5 owners to invest. Without exclusive games that truly showcase the need for the PS5 Pro’s more powerful hardware—Grand Theft Auto 6 is only one game (huge, but still), the last time we checked— or game-changing features (PS3 emulator, perhaps?), a PS5 Pro might struggle to find its place in the market.
