Ever since Sony lifted the shroud of secrecy that surrounded the upcoming PS5 Pro console, consumers and analysts alike have been debating the company’s pricing choice. The mid-generation console refresh will cost nearly twice as much as the base PS5 in the United States and actually twice as much in Europe. Analysts believe it’ll still be able to sell around the same as the PlayStation 4 Pro, which accounted for 20% of the total PS4 sales. Moreover, Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter commented that building a comparable PC would probably cost even more than the $700 Sony is asking.
For its part, Sony pointed to what is, in all likelihood, the key selling point to its userbase: the simplicity of use of the PS5 Pro compared to the PC. Speaking to Nikkei, Hideaki Nishino (CEO of the Platform Business Group at Sony Interactive Entertainment) said:
I think that with mobile devices, there are a lot of games that show ads, and with PCs, the setup can be difficult. With PS, you can immediately enjoy the content you purchased as soon as you turn it on. Even in the stores where you buy software, the products are clearly displayed, making it an intuitive experience.
Nishino also confirmed that consoles like the PS5 Pro and the inevitable PlayStation 6 will remain central to the company’s gaming business despite the expansion on PC.
We are trying to increase the overall game market pie by expanding our content to PCs as well. There is no doubt that our business will be centered on home consoles, but by offering titles for devices other than home consoles, we will reach a wider range of customers.
When asked whether the launch of the PS5 Pro would make it more of a challenge to create a successful PlayStation 6 in a few years, Nishino replied:
Technology is constantly evolving, so I think there’s still more we can do. With the PS5, we’ve shortened loading times by switching from the hard disk drive (HDD) used in the PS4 era to a solid-state drive (SSD). The sound can now be heard more three-dimensionally through the PS5’s controller’s speakers, enhancing the sense of immersion. Visual accuracy is important, but we will also be updating other elements.
The PS5 Pro will launch globally on November 7. So far, the following games have been confirmed to be optimized for it:
- Alan Wake 2
- Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
- Demon’s Souls
- Dragon’s Dogma 2
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Gran Turismo 7
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
- The Crew Motorfest
- The First Descendant
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered
