After years of rumors and speculation, Sony has officially announced the release of a new, more powerful version of its popular PlayStation 5 console: the PS5 Pro. This upgraded model will offer enhanced graphics and better performance, displaying demanding games at higher and more stable frame rates.
However, this extra power comes with a hefty price tag. At $699.99, the PS5 Pro will be Sony’s most expensive console to date, significantly more costly than the standard PS5. According to analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere, this high price is likely to spark considerable debate. He noted that Sony seems to be banking on the improved performance of the PS5 Pro to drive upgrades from existing PS5 owners and boost sales of software.
Mark Cerny, the lead architect behind the PS5, described the PS5 Pro as “the most powerful console we’ve ever built.” He explained that it aims to solve a long-standing issue for gamers: choosing between “fidelity mode” for better visuals or “performance mode” for smoother gameplay. The PS5 Pro seeks to eliminate or at least reduce this dilemma.
Christopher Dring, head of GamesIndustry.biz, told the BBC that the PS5 Pro is tailored for PlayStation’s most dedicated fans. Despite the console industry’s struggles this year with declining sales of current models and the aging Nintendo Switch, he suggested that the PS5 Pro may be positioned to offer the best experience for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, set to release next year.
The trend of releasing “pro” versions of consoles, which enhance current-generation hardware without exclusive games, appears to be sticking around. This means that while the PS5 Pro will offer improved graphics and performance, games will still be available on the standard PS5, giving gamers the choice between the two models.
Paul Tamburro from PlayStation LifeStyle noted that while fans hoped the PS5 Pro would bridge the gap between performance and fidelity modes, he felt the console’s high price might be hard to justify. He expressed disappointment that the console lacks a disc drive and still targets only 60 FPS, making it a tough sell for current PS5 owners.
The PS5 Pro marks Sony’s second major update in this category, following the PS4 Pro’s introduction of 4K graphics in 2016. It also follows Nintendo’s release of a Switch with an improved screen three years ago.
Although the PS5 Pro doesn’t match the PS4’s leap to 4K graphics, it represents a step forward in console gaming. As PC graphics have advanced with Nvidia’s Geforce 40 series cards, which can cost as much as a PS5 itself, consoles continue to offer a balance of high-quality visuals and affordability.
Rumors about the PS5 Pro included speculation about backwards compatibility with games from previous PlayStation consoles, but the official announcement did not confirm any such feature.
