After years of rumors, speculation, and anticipation, Sony has officially announced the launch of a more powerful—and significantly more expensive—version of its highly popular PlayStation 5 console.
The PS5 Pro will be equipped with advanced graphics capabilities, enabling it to display even the most demanding games at higher and more consistent frame rates.
However, this added power comes with a hefty price tag: the PS5 Pro will be Sony’s most expensive console to date.
Set to launch on November 7, the PS5 Pro will cost £699.99—several hundred pounds more than the original PS5.
“The price point of the PS5 Pro is bound to spark a lot of discussions,” noted Piers Harding-Rolls, an analyst from research firm Ampere.
He explained that Sony seems to be banking on the console’s enhanced performance to persuade users to upgrade their current hardware and spend more on accompanying software.
Mark Cerny, the lead architect behind the PS5, described it as “the most powerful console we’ve ever built.”
He also highlighted that the PS5 Pro is designed to solve a longstanding dilemma for gamers: whether to prioritize visuals with “fidelity mode” or to opt for smoother gameplay with “performance mode,” which often compromises on graphical quality.
Cerny said the PS5 Pro is aimed at “removing that decision, or at least narrowing that divide.”
Christopher Dring, head of GamesIndustry.biz, told that the PS5 Pro is “a very targeted console” meant for PlayStation’s “most enthusiastic audience.”
He noted that 2023 has been a tough year for the console industry, with declining sales for the PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and the aging Nintendo Switch.
“The PS5 Pro isn’t going to change that situation,” Dring said. However, he speculated that Sony might be looking ahead to the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated games in the world, set to launch next year.
“When GTA 6 does release, PlayStation will be able to say to players that the game will look best on PS5 Pro,” he added.
For decades, companies have launched updated versions of their consoles with minor revisions, but the release of the PS5 Pro indicates that the trend of “pro” hardware is here to stay.
These pro models generally offer hardware upgrades that improve the look of games, but they don’t come with exclusive titles.
This means that games will still be playable on the standard PS5, with players having the option to experience them on a regular or pro console, depending on their preferences for graphics and performance.
Paul Tamburro, from the news site PlayStation LifeStyle, pointed out that fans have long hoped the new console would “bridge the gap” between performance and fidelity modes, and the PS5 Pro seems to deliver on that front.
“However, it also feels that the console doesn’t do enough to justify that steep price point,” Tamburro noted.
He added, “It launching without a disc drive and still only targeting 60 FPS is disappointing. This isn’t an easy sell to current PS5 owners.”
The PS5 Pro marks Sony’s second major venture into pro hardware, following the 2016 release of the PS4 Pro, which introduced 4K graphics to the original PlayStation 4.
The new model also follows Nintendo’s own take on a pro console, with the release of a Nintendo Switch featuring a larger, improved screen three years ago.
While today’s announcement from Sony isn’t as groundbreaking as the jump to 4K graphics seen with the PS4 Pro, it still signifies an advancement in home console technology.
This comes at a time when PCs are becoming increasingly powerful, especially with the 2022 release of Nvidia’s Geforce 40 series graphics cards, which have put PCs far ahead of consoles in terms of visual capabilities.
It’s worth noting, however, that a single one of these graphics cards can cost as much as a PS5, highlighting the balance consoles strive to achieve between top-tier visuals and affordability.
Similar to the last generation of consoles, the release of the PS5 Pro means Sony will offer multiple versions of the PS5, each with different price points and specifications.
Prior to the official announcement, rumors were rampant, with fans speculating about the features the upgraded console might include.
One of the most popular rumors suggested that the PS5 Pro would be backwards compatible with games from previous Sony consoles, with some sources claiming this could extend all the way back to the original PlayStation.
