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- The PS5 Pro could be PlayStation’s attempt at testing the waters on hardware pricing.
- This goes against the primary appeal of affordable gaming consoles for mainstream audiences.
- Nintendo and Xbox will likely follow suit if the PS5 Pro succeeds at its current MSRP.
PlayStation officially unveiled the PS5 Pro earlier this week, but nobody could have predicted its egregious price tag. Despite all the flashy new features and hardware upgrades, I find the $700 MSRP a hard pill to swallow.
Let’s not forget that this is just the cost of the digital model. The actual PS5 Pro will be much more expensive once tax and the disc drive’s cost are factored in, setting a horrifying precedent.
Some may have shrugged this console off as an optional upgrade for a niche audience, but I see it having huge consequences on the console industry, potentially changing the market forever.
Why it matters: The PS5 Pro costs nearly $900, including tax and the cost of the disc drive and stand. Prices this high are simply unheard of in the industry.
What Happened to Consoles Being Affordable?
Console gaming has always appealed to the masses. Despite offering the latest and greatest tech, manufacturers have tried to provide the best bang for the buck when producing new hardware in this industry.
You need only look at the PS4 for proof. Priced at just $400, the PS4 continues to offer groundbreaking experiences nearly 11 years later. Nobody needs to be told how big of a step up this console was over the PS3, yet it was somehow priced at just $400 in 2013.
The PS4 Pro cost the same and offered a technical jump much bigger than the PS5 Pro’s. PlayStation seems to be trying to rewrite history today, transitioning to a future where consoles are considered premium purchases rather than mainstream options for those looking to enjoy the latest and greatest games.
Let’s not forget that owning a console becomes more expensive over time. Want to enjoy a few online gaming sessions? That costs at least $80/year, and while this may seem like a small price to pay for the various benefits of PS Plus, these additional expenses can quickly add up.
Your controller doesn’t work anymore? That’ll be $75 for a new DualSense. As it stands, PlayStation seems to want to have its cake and eat it too. It wants to keep the additional charges of the console platform that are necessary to subsidize hardware costs without actually offering an affordable entry into the ecosystem.
Testing the Waters
From my perspective, the PS5 Pro is basically PlayStation’s way of testing how far it can push console pricing.
Consider how the gaming giant did the same thing when it first introduced $70 AAA titles. Or how about the time when PS Plus prices slowly went up? Before we knew it, these things became the new normal.
I can see a future where the PS6 starts at $700 or more, and the writing is already on the wall. The gaming giant has only raised console prices this generation. Typically, one would expect a price cut three years into a console’s lifespan.
However, the PS5 keeps getting more expensive. The DualSense controller was also more expensive than the DualShock 4 from the beginning, yet it has recently seen a price hike of $5.
While gradual, these changes show PlayStation’s intentions of charging as much as the consumers are willing to pay.
Everyone Will Follow Suit
PS5 pro is giving PS3 reveal flashback
byu/Gold-Agent24k inPS3
Had PlayStation been the only one resorting to such tactics, consumers could have looked at other options.
However, the gaming industry has a knack for following established trends. Once PlayStation confirmed it would charge $70 for its biggest releases, EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, and even Nintendo quickly followed suit.
The company effectively opened the floodgates, and current discussions have even alluded to the possibility of future games being launched for more than $70. Much like game prices shot up, this move may be the beginning of more expensive consoles industry-wide.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is already expected to be less budget-friendly than its predecessor. Meanwhile, Xbox’s current failures in the hardware market could discourage the gaming giant from being competitive, giving it an excuse to match future pricing instead of attempting to undercut rival manufacturers.
If this is the way forward, I’m afraid console gamers are in for a rude awakening next generation.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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