"I want a horn here, here, and here. You can never find your horn when you are mad. And they should all play 'La Cucaracha'."
Sony officially announced the PS5 Pro, a "mid-generation" upgrade that will hit the shelves on November 7th, 2024, with a price tag of a whopping $699.99.
With this release, they're aiming to deliver 'smoother' frame rates, higher display resolutions, and better ray-tracing, promising a console that outperforms the original PS5 by leaps and bounds. However, the biggest question we should all be asking is... at what cost?
An Insane Price for an Underwhelming Upgrade
At $700 (without a disc drive), the PS5 Pro costs as much as a decent gaming PC — a PC that's upgradable and... future-proof. And if the eye-watering price wasn't enough, Sony has decided to charge an additional $80 USD fee for a separate 4K Blu-ray disc drive. Yeah.. the disc drive isn't included in the base price.
Sony is essentially asking consumers to shell out extra for what many consider a basic feature. This strategy reeks of a money grab, rather than an attempt to genuinely enhance the gaming experience.
For the price of a PS5 Pro and a separate disc drive, consumers could easily invest in a gaming PC that not only matches the performance but also offers more flexibility in terms of upgrades and versatility. This lackluster value proposition is only going to push more gamers towards the so-called "PC master race."
As @Okami13_ on X put it so bluntly:
I put together a quick mid-range PC build for about $1300. PS5 Pro + Disk Drive is $780. For about $500 more you get:
- Free online
- Free cloud saves
- MUCH cheaper games
- Mods
- Higher fidelity and frame rates
- PC Game Pass with day one Xbox games + hundreds of other titles
- PS5 exclusives ~1-2y after launch
- DLSS with frame gen
- Ability to tweak and customize settings
- Ability to upgrade one PC part at a time
- Countless other benefits of a gaming PC
Could opt for an even cheaper machine for a 1440p build but I tried to use newish parts only.
Where Are the Games?
Adding insult to injury, Sony hasn't even announced a major title to showcase the PS5 Pro's upgrades. What could have been an opportunity to launch a system seller — a massive, groundbreaking game that fully utilizes the new console's capabilities — has instead turned into an exercise in showing off slightly enhanced versions of existing titles like "Horizon: Forbidden West" or "Gran Turismo 7" So, cool I guess ...Yay?
Sony's failure to announce a game that takes full advantage of the PS5 Pro’s new hardware is baffling. This lack of foresight leaves the average gamer questioning the console's value. At this price point, it'd had made more sense for Sony to align the launch with a massive title that makes full use of the improved graphics, frame rates, and ray tracing. Instead, what we got was a showcase of older games with minor visual improvements.
A Missed Opportunity for the Future of Consoles
Given the lackluster reception and high price point, one has to wonder what Sony was thinking with this release. Instead of doubling down on an upgrade that feels like a minor step up from the current PS5, Sony could have used this moment to start fresh with a PS6 — separating the brands and bringing something genuinely new to the table.
By prolonging the current generation with what feels like a half-hearted effort, Sony now risks alienating a large portion of its fan base. Yes they did this with the PS4 Pro as well, and I wasn't a fan of it then either. The decision to charge extra for a separate disc drive and the lack of a compelling launch title this time around make the PS5 Pro feel more like a cash grab than an innovative step forward. This is particularly troubling in an industry that thrives on exciting game experiences, not just hardware specs.
Just imagine if Sony would focus on making incredible game experiences instead of puking out the $250 million loss known as Concord. The vast majority of gamers are content with the current graphical offering and settings... We just want good games to play now.
Final Thoughts
For those with disposable income who are still clinging to last-gen consoles, the PS5 Pro may seem like an attractive option... But for the average gamer already owning a PS5, spending $700 on this "upgrade" is questionable ...at best. This move by Sony only makes it easier everyone to make the jump to PC, where you have more control, customization, and future-proofing for your money. Hell, Sony's even putting their games there now anyways.
In the end, the PS5 Pro feels like a misstep in a generation that should be pushing boundaries and creating incredible game experiences. Sony, it’s time to get back to the drawing board and start thinking about what gamers really want.
~Smash