Contrary to popular belief, the last console generation’s mid-cycle refreshes weren’t the biggest hits. Sony, in particular, sold less than 15 million units of the PlayStation 4 Pro by January 2020. The number accounts for roughly 10% of the total lifetime sales of the PS4. We don’t know how many Xbox One X Microsoft sold before calling curtains but it was likely lower than the PS4 Pro. What we know is Microsoft isn’t releasing a mid-cycle refresh this time. Thus, this begs to wonder, why does it feel like Sony knows something that Microsoft doesn’t?
Well, a good reason for PlayStation braving the waters and releasing a PlayStation 5 Pro is the upcoming Rockstar Games title, Grand Theft Auto 6.
Take-Two Interactive has made its expectations for GTA 6 no secret, saying that the new GTA game will set a “creative benchmark” for the entire entertainment industry. As per the most recent update from Take-Two, GTA 6 will be released in 2025, possibly at a later date than expected for further polishing.
Regardless of whether GTA 6 comes out in early 2025 or late 2025 though, Sony is in a good position to take advantage of its release.
With GTA 6 launching exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X next year, the PS5 Pro could become the premiere console to experience GTA 6, especially if it’s the only platform capable of running the game at 60 frames per second in 4K resolution at launch. This pseudo-exclusivity, coupled with enhanced features such as ray-tracing and upscaling technologies, might justify the upgrade for those eager to play the latest GTA installment in the best possible quality.
Moreover, reports suggest that Sony is preparing the PS5 Pro specifically with GTA 6 in mind, possibly even planning a console bundle for its release. This strategic move could drive sales, particularly if Microsoft doesn’t release a competing product, as confirmed by Microsoft themselves earlier. The lack of a direct competitor in terms of hardware upgrades places Sony in a favorable position to capture the market of gamers looking for the optimal GTA 6 experience.
Sony knows the pull of Grand Theft Auto from first-hand experience. The best-selling games on PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 are Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto 5, respectively. GTA V would continue to outsell every other first-party PS4-exclusive except for Marvel’s Spider-Man to the tune of 20 million copies sold on the eighth generation video game console.
With GTA 6 expected to make quick work of making over a billion in revenue shortly after hitting store shelves, the immediate commercial success of the PS5 Pro is all but guaranteed in this hypothetical scenario.
Of course, just how big the PS5 Pro’s sales balloons depends on its price point and the actual performance improvements it offers over the PS5. The initial wave of FOMO will make sure that PS5 Pro units will come flying off the shelves as soon as it’s available. For the PS5 Pro to post significantly better numbers than the PS4 Pro did though, Sony has to price its new and upcoming flagship console competitively while working closely with developers like Rockstar.
If Sony can pull this off, the PS5 Pro could see a better adoption rate than the PS4 Pro by virtue of being the best place to enjoy GTA 6 for at least two years following its initial rollout.
