The recent unveiling of the PS5 Pro has sparked a flurry of interest among gamers and industry analysts alike. With new features and capabilities, the PS5 Pro not only aims to enhance the gaming experience but also reignites discussions around potential new additions to the PlayStation family.
Analyst Weighs in on PS5 Pro Sales Trajectory with Price Hike
PS5 Pro Expanded Capabilities Revive Rumors of New “PS5 Handheld”
Sony's latest iteration, the PS5 Pro, priced at $700, has been officially unveiled, and industry analysts are projecting sales figures that mirror those of the PS4 Pro, despite the significant price increase. According to Ampere Analysis market research director Piers Harding-Rolls, as reported by VGC, "The price point of the PS5 Pro will inevitably cause a lot of commentary." He highlighted that the price difference between the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro is between 40-50%, a much larger gap than the 33% difference seen between the PS4 and PS4 Pro at launch.
Ampere Analysis expects Sony to sell approximately 1.3 million units of the PS5 Pro during its launch window in November 2024, which is about 400,000 units fewer than the PS4 Pro's launch sales in 2016. Harding-Rolls noted, "In the US, the PS4 Pro launched at $399 and the slim PS4 was $299 at the time, a 33% differential. Additionally, the slim PS4 had a retail price of $299 having dropped from the original PS4 launch price of $399."
Despite the higher price, Harding-Rolls believes that "for PlayStation enthusiasts the pricing is less of a consideration." Sony managed to sell around 14.5 million units of the PS4 Pro, which accounted for roughly 12% of the total PS4 console sales. Ampere Analysis projects a sell-through of "around 13 million units" for the PS5 Pro within five years.
Sell-through refers to "a transaction in which a consumer buys goods or products directly from a retailer."
In other news, PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny has revealed that the PS5 Pro will enhance PSVR2 games through performance improvements. In a statement to Cnet, Cerny mentioned that the PS5 Pro's improved GPU will enable higher resolution outputs for games on the PSVR2, though no specific titles have been confirmed yet.
Cerny also noted that the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the PS5 Pro's AI-assisted upscaling feature, will be compatible with the PSVR2 in the future. Additionally, the PS5 Pro is designed to work seamlessly with other PS5 accessories, including the PS Portal, Sony's remote player for the PS5.
The compatibility of the PS5 Pro with the PS Portal has fueled speculation about a potential new "portable PlayStation console." Earlier this year, rumors surfaced about a PS handheld capable of running PS5 games. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the enhanced capabilities of the PS5 Pro could pave the way for an exciting new chapter in PlayStation's handheld offerings.
