Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro, the mid-life cycle upgrade to the PS5, to mixed reactions from the fans. The upgraded version is aimed at bridging the divide between the maximum fidelity mode and the less visually stunning but more efficient performance mode of the original PS5. But what caught the fans by surprise was the eye-watering launch price for the console, that too without the physical disk drive or any peripherals (vertical stand sold separately).

The PS5 Pro will be released commercially on November 7, 2024, with pre-orders starting from September 26. It is priced at USD $699.99 (approx. INR 59,000) and EUR 799.99 (approx. INR 73,911) in Europe. Even more jaw-dropping is the fact that the PS5 Pro does not come equipped with a disc drive for physical copies of the game. A Blu-ray physical disk drive will cost an additional 79 USD (approx. INR 6,634). This marks the most expensive console launch ever, as the PS5 Pro is more expensive than all previous consoles, even adjusted for inflation.

PlayStation 5 Pro Specifications 

The improvements in the PS5 were neatly summarized by Sony’s lead system architect, Mark Cerny, as the “Big 3: AI Upscaling, Larger Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), and Enhanced Ray Tracing.

The artificial intelligence upscaling of the graphics was unveiled in the form of PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which uses AI and machine learning-based technology to upscale and improve how games look. “PSSR analyzes the game images pixel by pixel and can add an extraordinary amount of detail, which boosts the effective resolution of the games,” Cerny said.

The PS5 Pro reportedly has up to three times the capacity of the current PS5 when it comes to rendering realistic lighting and simulating real-world reflections and refractions of light in game environments.

Cerny also said the PS5 Pro has a larger graphics processing unit with faster response, so rendering of game video is up to 45% faster.

The PS5 Pro aims to deliver higher-fidelity graphics and smoother frame rates, focusing mainly on bridging the gap between the PS5’s Fidelity and Performance modes. The fidelity mode focuses on higher-quality visuals while sacrificing frame rate, while the performance mode focuses on higher frame rates while compromising on the graphics quality.

The Major Sticking Point 

While the PS5 Pro promises to deliver a more enhanced and immersive gaming experience for the players, fans were struggling to justify the exorbitant price of the upgraded console. They were quick to air out their grievance on social media by commenting on the launch technical presentation of the PS5 Pro.

Even more ridiculous was the lack of a physical disc drive, which was available on the PS5’s launch. The original console was listed at US $499.99 (INR 49,990 in India), which included the disc drive, and a separate digital version was sold at US $399.99 (INR 39,990 in India).

The comparisons that showcased the improvements to the existing games were also criticized for being relatively similar with minimal perceptual differences. While this could be attributed to the rendering capabilities of YouTube, the players were still critical of the “overpricing” of the console. They were also relentless in their criticism of Sony for using previous generation’s titles to showcase the enhanced properties of the PS5 Pro.

Repeat of a disaster? 

The exorbitant launch price of the PS5 also brings back memories of Sony’s disastrous launch of the PlayStation 3, which was listed at US $599 (60 GB model) on launch. In comparison, the console’s nearest rival, the Xbox 360, was launched at an affordable US $299 and went on to become Xbox’s most commercially successful console ever.

The PS3 was a commercial failure and conclusively lost the console war in the late 2000s, despite the redesigned PS3 Slim hitting the shelves in 2009 at US $299. However, several critics argue that Sony has the liberty to pull this stunt off today due to a perceived lack of competition, as sales charts show the PS5 outselling the Xbox Series X by a nearly three-to-one margin.

Sony’s PS4 also won the battle against Xbox One, which flopped commercially due to Microsoft’s questionable marketing and hardware choices. In contrast, the PS4, priced at $399 at launch, broke the record for the highest-selling console, previously set by the PS2.