Sony unveils the new, more powerful, and significantly pricier PlayStation 5 Pro

After years of speculation and anticipation, Sony has officially announced the release of a new, more powerful, and significantly pricier version of its popular PlayStation 5 console. The PS5 Pro promises enhanced graphics and the ability to run the most demanding games at higher and more consistent frame rates. However, this upgrade comes with a substantial price increase; the PS5 Pro will be priced at £699.99 when it launches on November 7, making it Sony’s most expensive console to date.

Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from Ampere Research noted that the high price of the PS5 Pro is likely to generate considerable discussion. He suggested that Sony’s strategy may involve leveraging the console’s superior performance to entice users to upgrade from their current hardware and invest more in software.

Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PS5, described the PS5 Pro as “the most powerful console we’ve ever built.” He highlighted the console’s ability to address a long-standing issue for gamers: the choice between “fidelity mode” for better visuals and “performance mode” for smoother gameplay. Cerny said the PS5 Pro aims to “remove that decision, or at least narrow that divide.”

Christopher Dring, head of GamesIndustry.biz, told the BBC that the PS5 Pro is aimed at PlayStation’s most dedicated fans. He acknowledged that the console market has faced challenges this year with declining sales of the PS5, Xbox Series S and X, and the aging Nintendo Switch. Dring speculated that Sony might be positioning the PS5 Pro to offer the best experience for highly anticipated games like Grand Theft Auto VI, which is set to release next year.

The release of the PS5 Pro marks a continuation of the trend for updated “pro” versions of consoles, a practice that has become more common in recent years. These versions typically offer improved graphics and performance but do not feature exclusive games. Instead, they provide enhanced experiences for existing titles, allowing gamers to choose between a standard console and a pro model with better visuals and performance.

Paul Tamburro of PlayStation LifeStyle expressed mixed feelings about the PS5 Pro. He noted that while the console is designed to bridge the gap between performance and fidelity modes, its high price and lack of a disc drive might not justify the upgrade for current PS5 owners. The PS5 Pro targets a frame rate of 60 FPS, which some may find disappointing given the cost.

This release follows Sony’s 2016 PS4 Pro, which introduced 4K graphics to the original PlayStation 4, and Nintendo’s recent pro model of the Switch with an improved screen. Although the PS5 Pro’s leap in graphics is not as dramatic as the PS4’s shift to 4K, it represents a significant advancement in home console technology, especially as PC graphics have become increasingly powerful.

Despite rumors suggesting the PS5 Pro might be backward compatible with games from previous Sony consoles, there was no confirmation of this in the announcement. As with past console updates, the PS5 Pro will offer a choice between different versions of the PS5, catering to varying preferences and budgets.