The PlayStation 5 Pro is shaping up to be an impressive gaming console, offering stunning visuals through its advanced custom GPU and AI-driven machine learning upscaling. This means that performance modes in even the most demanding games will be notably enhanced. However, the console’s $700 price point—significantly higher than the PS5 Slim at $450—has raised eyebrows among potential buyers.
In a recent interview with IGN, Toshi Aoki, Sony’s senior principal product manager, addressed the high cost, emphasizing the sophisticated technology bundled into the package.
“[The technologies] that we are putting in to deliver new experiences for game players, and also not just the technological differences, but the SSD, the Wi-Fi 7, and the new technologies that surround the gameplay as well,” Aoki stated. “So it’s more of a full package that will give that exceptional value to the players… the most engaged players that we’re targeting.”
Concerns about pricing weren’t limited to just the console itself. The PS5 Pro will not include a disc drive by default, requiring gamers to purchase one separately for $80. Although the PS5 Slim offered a bundled disc drive option, this new model does not. Aoki maintained that the PS5 Pro already provides a comprehensive gaming experience, even if its appeal may be more limited.
“It is an option for players. Not all players have discs, even though most players may…but we have the option for being able to add that for those players. So I think it’s more of the balance of the value proposition that we’re giving,” he added.
Aoki acknowledged that the PS5 Pro seems tailored for a specific niche of avid gamers willing to invest in premium gaming tech. While the price places it in the ballpark of a basic custom gaming PC, the PS5 Pro brings unique GPU features not found in other AMD PCs. Early previews suggest it may deliver significant performance for dedicated gamers, even if it isn’t the mid-generation upgrade many had anticipated.