After years of speculation and anticipation, Sony has officially announced the launch of a more powerful—and significantly pricier—version of its highly successful PlayStation 5 console.
The PS5 Pro will offer enhanced graphics and the ability to run demanding games at higher and more stable frame rates.
However, this extra power comes with a steep price: the PS5 Pro will be Sony’s most expensive console to date.
It will be priced at £699.99 when it hits the market on 7 November this year—several hundred pounds more than the original PS5.
“The price point of the PS5 Pro will inevitably cause a lot of commentary,” said Piers Harding-Rolls, an analyst at research firm Ampere.
He suggested that Sony is likely banking on the console’s improved performance motivating users to upgrade their current hardware and spend more on software.
Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PS5, described it as “the most powerful console we’ve ever built.”
He explained that it aims to address a longstanding issue for gamers—whether to play in “fidelity mode” for better visuals or “performance mode” for smoother gameplay, often at the expense of visual quality.
Cerny noted that the PS5 Pro is focused on “removing that decision, or at least narrowing that divide.”
Christopher Dring, head of GamesIndustry.biz, told the BBC that the PS5 Pro is “a very targeted console” designed for PlayStation’s “most enthusiastic audience.”
“The console industry has had a tough time this year, with falling sales of PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and the ageing Nintendo Switch,” he added.
“PS5 Pro isn’t going to change that situation.”
However, he noted that Sony may be looking ahead to the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most highly anticipated games in the world, set to launch next year.
“When GTA 6 does launch, PlayStation will be able to say to players that the game will look best on PS5 Pro,” Dring said.
