The PlayStation 5 Pro has sparked some heated debate among fans. Not only will it set you back quite a fortune but it won’t come with a disc drive to boot, rendering your physical collection useless. Nevertheless, Sony’s President, COO, and CFO Hiroki Totoki seems pretty unfazed. In the company’s November 8th financial presentation, Totoki clarified that PS5 Pro’s $700 price is explicitly aimed at ‘hardcore users.’
“PS5 Pro is rather high-end, it’s for hardcore users,” Totoki said, “Hardcore users are the target of this hardware”. He doubles down on the fact that the console is targeted at players who won’t hesitate to drop some serious cash for a performance boost. The gaming giant’s boss also wasn’t shy about acknowledging that the pricing provoked ‘different comments’ from fans. But, as he put it, the $700 tag is no problem, “The pricing on PS5 Pro has not had a negative impact, I don’t think.”
It’s easy to see why Sony is confident about the PS5 Pro’s pricing. Nvidia reportedly is going to launch a $2,500 top-end GPU while developers keep pushing hardware’s graphical limits for average gamers. Shelling out a 1/4 of the cost for the ability to play any upcoming AAA game in peace seems like a no-brainer for gaming aficionados.
Sony is definitely positioning the PS5 Pro as a top-tier option for players who want every ounce of performance they can get. “Compared to [base model] PS5, it’s a stronger hardware,” Totoki emphasized. The strategy is clear: the Pro isn’t meant for everyone and is designed for those who’ll happily embrace a shiny upgrade, price tag and all. Although Trump’s presidency’s proposed import tax could put a dent in the strategy.
With that in mind, you just have to ask yourself these questions if you’re eyeing a PS5 Pro. Are you the kind of gamer who is always first in line for new tech and will see it as a worthy investment? And will the proposed tariffs take effect before the console refresh is released?
