PS5 Pro will be priced bundled and will be missing one important feature
Sony's latest next-gen console is getting an upgrade. I know we already knew this, but today, Sony released two videos introducing the PlayStation 5 Pro, which is an improved version of the PS5, just like they did for the PlayStation 4. The first trailer is mostly a bit of fluff that makes the PS5 Pro look like space age technology, while giving away information that most people have probably never heard of, but that means better graphics. And I'm not spoiling it (in practice); it looks awesome. You can check out the PS5 Pro reveal trailer below:
Next, Sony gave a more detailed technical presentation, in which “chief architect” Mark Cerny went into more detail about the new version of the system:
It was smart to highlight the features of the original PS5 before moving on to the PS5 Pro. I haven't used the PS5 yet, so it's nice to see some aspects of the system I didn't know about. I find the Fidelity mode vs. Performance mode option interesting, and it doesn't surprise me that most gamers choose Performance mode, where graphical clarity is sacrificed a bit for optimal gameplay. That's what I would choose; I care more about enjoying the game than looking at the visuals, and the graphics are good enough that a slight downgrade probably won't hurt much (except for a horrible-looking game, for example). Star Wars Outlaws) That's what Cerny focused on in the presentation: the PS5 Pro effectively eliminates the need to choose by drastically improving the graphics capabilities of the regular PS5, so that visuals don't have to be sacrificed for better gameplay. And it looks great; the already great PS5 graphics have improved significantly.
But that's the problem: the PS5 already has great graphics, and while I agree the PS5 Pro makes them even better, I'm not sure it's worth the price hike. Yeah, here's where it gets even murkier, as you probably guessed. The PS5 Pro will cost $699 at launch, which is $200 more than the already expensive regular PS5. One of the reasons why the PS5 feels so expensive is that it hasn't dropped in price since its release nearly four years ago; many wondered if the release of the PS5 Pro would drive down the price of the regular model, but that seems unlikely, as the PS5 Still available for $499The PS5 Pro also costs significantly more than the PS4 Pro, from $699 to $999 PS4 Pro costs $400; Another important difference is that the PS4 Its price has fallen for the first time Before the PS4 Pro was released, its price dropped to $350 just three years after its launch. The PS5 is nearly four years old and hasn't dropped in price, and it shows no signs of that happening; will gamers who already spent a lot of money on it spend another $700 for better graphics on an already great-looking system? Furthermore, will people who have avoided buying a PS5 pay that much more for visual improvements?
I would say no, especially when – you’re not going to believe this – the PS5 Pro Does not come with a disc drive! This stupid thing is entirely digital unless you buy a separate optical disc drive, which is another $80. I mean, come on; I'm a PlayStation guy, but at this point, you should be angry at this. All this money, and you can't even play discs on it unless you buy an attachment? What makes me even more angry is that this detail is nowhere in the trailer or the tech presentation, which shows they're trying to hide it, perhaps hoping people will buy it without knowing they can't play their physical copies. After spending $700, most customers will probably just sigh and buy the disc drive for another $80. But maybe not; if people don't know about the missing disc drive, Sony might have a flood of returns and refunds. It's the definition of the saying, “penny wise, pound foolish.” Even if they trick a lot of people already, the long-term prospects of the PS5 Pro aren't good if they force people to buy disc drives separately. And it's not like hardcore gamers don't already know this and aren't pissed; just check out the comments on the two videos above.
Oho @Sony @play station No disc drive… No PS5 Pro sales. pic.twitter.com/icEfJ5uWM6
— heel vs. babyface (@heelvsbabyface) September 10, 2024
It will be fun to see how the PS5 Pro release goes, especially after this announcement, because now, I am not rooting for Sony. I hope this blows up in their face, and they learn not to do something like this again. It would also be nice if this brings down the price of the PS5.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the PS5 Pro announcement!
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