Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro was one of the worst-kept secrets of recent years.After months of rumors and speculation, Sony finally broke the silence and announced the new console a few months ago. Although much of the criticism focused on its price, it seems that this factor did not significantly impact sales.
In a 10-minute broadcast held in early September, Mark Cerny, the PS5 architect, shared the first details about Sony’s new hardware. In addition to delving into the technical specifications and some of its new features, he revealed the launch date and price.
It was announced that the enhanced version of Sony’s next-gen console would debut on November 7 with a price tag of $699.99 USD. Unsurprisingly, the price raised eyebrows among a large sector of the gaming community.
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PS5 Pro Price Didn’t Negatively Impact Sales, Says Hiroki Totoki
Shortly after the announcement, thousands of gamers took to social media to criticize the PlayStation 5 Pro. Many focused on its technical capabilities and the lack of new games showcasing the console's true potential, but most criticism was directed at the high price.
The community expressed that the platform is very expensive, especially since it doesn’t include the Ultra HD Blu-Ray drive or the stand that allows the console to be placed vertically. “It costs $700 USD, and the first game shown on the PS5 Pro is one that launched on PlayStation 4,” lamented one disappointed fan.
Despite these concerns, Sony’s president reiterated that the price did not negatively impact the PS5 Pro's commercial performance.
As part of the company’s latest financial report, Hiroki Totoki, president of Sony, acknowledged the varied opinions about the console’s price. However, he clarified that, ultimately, it didn’t affect sales. He also stated that the PlayStation 5 Pro is a product aimed at “hardcore gamers,” not casual ones.
“Regarding the price, many people have had different comments about it. But the PS5 Pro price hasn’t had a negative impact.”
A few weeks ago, Vince Zampella, head of Respawn Entertainment, defended Sony’s pricing for the new console. While he understands why gamers are upset, he pointed out that for $700 USD, the PS5 Pro offers better performance than some PCs at the same price point.
“At first, it seemed a bit shocking, but it’s really not that bad. And if you buy a $700 USD PC, you don’t get the same performance you do with a [PS5].”
Is the PlayStation 5 Pro a Success?
So far, it’s unclear how many units of the new PlayStation 5 version sold in its first days on the market. Still, analysts expect it to perform well commercially, stating that fans will buy it regardless of the price because “PlayStation is similar to Apple”.
That said, and as reported by VGC, the new console hasn’t sold out and is still available at most major retailers. This has caused problems for resellers, who are now losing money.
So, tell us—did you buy the new console? Do you think it’s worth its price? Let us know in the comments.
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