Sony's PS5 Pro: A Powerhouse, But Is It Worth the Price?
All this power doesn’t come without its demands
Sony’s latest announcement of the PlayStation 5 Pro, set for release on November 7th, has sent waves through the gaming community.
While the PS5 Pro promises to deliver on performance, with a price tag of £699.99/$699.99 for the digital-only version, it’s fair to question whether this new console is worth the investment.
The Promise of Performance
On paper, the PS5 Pro sounds like a dream come true for gaming enthusiasts. Boasting a 67% GPU upgrade, faster memory, and advanced ray tracing, it promises sharper, smoother, and faster gameplay.
Coupled with AI-driven upscaling, the visual experience on the PS5 Pro is meant to blow its predecessor out of the water.
This power-packed console is tailored for those who crave high fidelity graphics without compromising on frame rates—a combination that’s sure to appeal to hardcore gamers.
The addition of Wi-Fi 7 and support for VRR and 8K gaming future-proofs the console for the next generation of games and technology.
The introduction of PS5 Pro Game Boost, which enhances the performance of over 8,500 backward compatible PS4 games, feels like a cherry on top for players nostalgic for their PS4 library.
The Price Problem
However, for all the power and promise, it’s hard to ignore the steep price tag. £699.99/$699.99 is already a significant chunk of change, especially when compared to the standard PS5.
Add on the £99.99 for the separate disc drive (a necessary purchase if you have a collection of physical games), and you’re looking at a whopping £825.
Oh, and don’t forget the £24.99 for the vertical stand, because apparently standing your console upright isn’t something Sony thought to include in a product costing nearly a grand.
While hardcore gamers or those who missed the PS5 might see this as an upgrade worth the price, for the average player, it feels like Sony is asking too much for features that may not drastically change their gaming experience.
Are slightly improved graphics, faster loading times, and better ray tracing enough to justify spending nearly £1,000 on a console when the PS5 itself is still an incredibly capable machine?
An Elite Experience or an Unnecessary Luxury?
For many, the PS5 Pro seems like an unnecessary luxury. The gaming industry has been shifting towards digital-first platforms, and while the PS5 Pro fits in with this shift, it seems out of touch with the financial realities of many gamers.
The performance enhancements, while impressive, don’t offer a revolutionary jump that would have mainstream players clamoring for an upgrade.
Titles like Demon’s Souls, Alan Wake 2, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will look and feel fantastic on this system, but these are the kinds of games that already offer stunning graphics and great gameplay on the current PS5.
It begs the question: are these updates enough to warrant such a drastic price leap?
Furthermore, Sony's recent price hike on the DualSense controller is an eyebrow-raiser.
It gives the impression that Sony is increasingly focused on squeezing as much out of consumers as possible, especially in a market where gamers have more options than ever.
Verdict: Worth It for the Hardcore, Not for the Average
The PS5 Pro is undoubtedly a technical marvel. It’s built for those who prioritise performance above all else, the kind of gamers who measure every frame per second and demand ultra-smooth graphics.
But for the average player who already owns a PS5 or is thinking of getting into the ecosystem, the price simply isn’t justifiable.
At £825 for the full setup, this isn’t just a gaming console—it’s an investment. And for most, the difference in performance won’t be life-changing enough to make it worthwhile.
Sony has delivered a powerful upgrade, but it’s hard not to feel like it’s priced itself out of the reach of most gamers.
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