The PS5 Pro is finally on the market – and with a price of a whopping 799 euros, Sony has exceeded the wildest expectations of many. Even though it’s a mid-gen upgrade and not a completely new generation of consoles, that doesn’t seem to deter players. On the contrary: sales figures are in line with expectations and Sony’s management, represented by President Hiroki Totoki, is optimistic. “Prices have not had a negative impact on the PS5 Pro,” Totoki stated in the company’s most recent financial results. On the contrary, the pre-sales figures even exceeded those of the PS4 Pro.
Made for hardcore gamers
Totoki emphasized However, once again, the PS5 Pro is aimed primarily at hardcore gamers who are willing to dig a little deeper into their pockets for improved performance and graphics quality. This target group is demanding and will invest even for a mid-gen upgrade as long as it exceeds expectations. And indeed, according to initial feedback, the PS5 Pro delivers impressive performance improvements over the regular PS5 – from smoother refresh rates to improved graphic details.
But we were also pleasantly surprised that the difference was much larger than we had previously assumed. This is also shown by the many videos and images that have been shared since the launch, whereby it is often noted that a large TV or monitor with cutting-edge technology is recommended to make the most of the PS5 Pro. We have recorded some personal impressions of the PS5 Pro here.
PS6 at 1000 euros?
Despite this positive response, the price of the PS5 Pro raises some questions: Is the price-performance ratio really justified? And most importantly – how will Sony position the next generation, the PS6? The high price of the PS5 Pro is close to an entry-level gaming PC, which some fans are critical of. In a market where gaming PCs are becoming increasingly competitive, the question is how long the console can survive as the sole means of hardcore gaming experience.
For the future, it remains unclear what the price of a PS6 could be. If the next generation of PlayStation outperforms the PS5 Pro – which is expected – consumers could face an even higher price tag. This, in turn, could be a barrier, especially for casual gamers who are willing to pay deep for a mid-gen upgrade like the PS5 Pro, but may be less interested in the next console.
