Before you think I’m approaching this with a holier-than-thou attitude, that isn’t the case. Like many of you out there, I thought about getting the PS5 Pro when it was initially announced. I’ve been a fan of PlayStation since I picked up my first controller, which means I’ve had all iterations of this console. However, after thinking long and hard, I realized I’d stick with my launch-day PS5 and spend the $700 on upgrading my PC. Yet, not many thought like me. Some were really annoyed about the PS5 Pro’s price, and with good reason — it is quite hefty. Still, all it took for customers to forget about the overpriced PS5 Pro was the 30-year anniversary bundle. Well, that’s how it feels, anyway.
Just looking at the recent announcement for this nostalgia-filled bundle and scrolling down the comments of PlayStation’s X (formerly known as Twitter) account that was a battleground a few days ago, it’s all fine and dandy now. People say things like, “Day one getting the Pro” or “I wanted to boycott this expensive price point, but I’m breaking.“
I am in no position to judge customer behavior or what people want to do with the money, but it is almost unbelievable how quickly the tides of opinion can shift thanks to a nostalgia-packed product.
As Long As We Purchase Overpriced Products, Things Won’t Change
Despite the complaints and controversies, companies see one thing: sales numbers. Even if half the world is raising their pitchforks against an overpriced product, if the other half purchases it, companies will see that and continue doing the same thing. I’m not saying we have to boycott the industry by any means, but we don’t seem to learn, nor do companies. Is there really a solution for this? No, and that’s perfectly fine. Ultimately, some consoles are not for everyone, and Sony knows this.
If we look at this situation, Sony has done something genius. Assuming the 30-year anniversary bundle will cost more than the PS5 Pro, what will people do? They will buy the normal PS5 Pro because it is now the “cheaper” alternative. On the other hand, some might get hit with FOMO and get the anniversary collection. Any way you look at it, this was a terrific and strategic move on Sony’s side.
Furthermore, hyper-consumerism is something we can’t ignore in this day and age. Novelty products are something we all want, and being able to own something like the PS5 Pro 30-year anniversary bundle gives one a sense of accomplishment, which is also great. But again, prices will fail to decrease if we continue down this road.
Look, I’m not saying that buying a PS5 Pro is a bad thing per se—value is in the eye of the beholder, but I wish gamers were a little more savvy about these naughty business habits that big corporations seem to get away with. Frankly, if Microsoft was in a stronger position and was actually competing with Sony on a more even footing, it’s fair to say that the price point would’ve likely been lower and more affordable.
As it stands, however, the Japanese conglomerate is eating Microsoft’s lunch, and that probably helped precipitate the scenario we’re in now. One only needs to look at the Black Myth: Wukong situation. PS5 consoles sold overnight just because no other platform could play it, outside of PC, of course.
Ultimately, no one can tell you what to do with your money. Everyone’s buying habits are private, and that’s completely understandable. However, having a bit of information about the product and not falling into the FOMO abyss could make a huge difference and even hopefully lead companies to evaluate the prices of their products.
