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Sony announces PlayStation 5 Pro release date

PlayStation Pro

Sony has unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro, a powerful new console set to launch on November 7, 2024.

The PS5 Pro boasts impressive upgrades, including a GPU with 67% more Compute Units and 28% faster memory compared to the current PS5. This enables up to 45% faster rendering for smoother gameplay.

The console also features enhanced ray tracing technology, doubling or tripling the ray casting speeds of the current PS5. Additionally, the PS5 Pro introduces PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, which uses machine learning to deliver exceptional image clarity.

Exclusive features of the PS5 Pro include PS5 Pro Game Boost, which can stabilize or enhance the performance of more than 8,500 backward-compatible PS4 games.

Select PS4 games will also enjoy improved resolution on the new console.

Several upcoming titles from PlayStation Studios and third-party partners will be patched with free software updates to take full advantage of the PS5 Pro’s capabilities. These games include “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,” and “The Last of Us Part II Remastered.”

The PS5 Pro maintains the same height and width as the original PS5 and is compatible with current PS5 accessories.

It will be available at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $699.99 USD, £699.99 GBP, €799.99 EUR, and ¥119,980 JPY (includes tax). Each purchase includes a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a pre-installed copy of Astro’s Playroom.

Sony unveils PlayStation 5 Pro pricing

However, the PS5 Pro’s high price point has sparked debate among analysts and consumers. Piers Harding-Rolls, a games industry analyst, attributes the pricing to Sony’s adjusted strategy to protect its margin and the lack of direct competition from Microsoft in the mid-cycle upgrade market. Harding-Rolls expects the PS5 Pro to sell around 13 million units by 2029, similar to the PS4 Pro, which is estimated to have sold around 12% of total PS4 sales.

He notes that while the price may soften demand for some consumers, PlayStation enthusiasts are less likely to be deterred by the cost. Analysts are divided on whether the pricing strategy will boost sales for Sony. Some see it as an attempt to maintain profit margins amidst rising component costs, while others believe it targets only the most dedicated PlayStation users.

Mark Cerny, lead architect of the console, stated that the PlayStation 5 Pro will offer 45% faster rendering than the standard PlayStation 5. The console will allow PlayStation 5 games to be played at higher resolutions and faster frame rates without the need to toggle between different modes. Despite the impressive features, the PS5 Pro’s high price tag has raised concerns among reviewers, especially given the lack of a disc drive.

This reflects a trend in the video game industry towards online services over physical media. Sony remains confident in the PS5 Pro’s capabilities, with Cerny stating, “Simply put, it’s the most powerful console we’ve ever built.”

Adam Campbell

The IT mastermind with a passion for data and a flair for blogging brilliance. When he's not conquering tech conundrums as an IT manager, you'll find him surfing the waves of big data, decoding the secrets of technology, and serving up witty insights with a side of code humor on his blog.
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