No reason at all to upgrade. I bought my PS5 as Blu-ray player, so the Pro version would cut out that function.
I too play Final Fantasy XIV (you said XVI in article), and the leap from PS4 Slim to PS5 was excellent. Glad to know I’m not missing anything with this upgrade.
I’m a long time PlayStation owner (circa 1998 when the DualShock was packed in with the original console). This is the first time since then that it’s looking like I will probably miss out on the PS5, and possibly whatever the next Sony console will be.
Both the base PS5 and the Pro are just too expensive a purchase to justify. I’m mean, even the Switch 2 is questionable for me, but less so at least.
Weirdly enough, I don’t even feel that bad at the thought of having to skip the PS5. But it still feels strange to not be planning how to purchase the latest PS console. I think I’m also worried that if I were to plunk down money on the PS5, the PS6 is suddenly going to be the next big thing before I would have gotten my monies worth of the PS5 Pro.
I'm not struggling with my PS5 Pro purchase in the least. Sold my Series X and accessories to get it. I'm thoroughly enjoying KCD2, Days Gone Remastered (with the latest patch), and Lies of P. I'm slowly picking away at Spider Man 2. It's the best console I've ever owned, and I've owned the all since the Atari 2600.
Good article. I always thought I would buy the PS5 Pro - always planned too. Then I just... Didn't. And I don't feel the need too. It's strange, it's like it doesn't exist
I'm still gaming on a PS4 Pro w/upgraded 1 tb SSD.......it looks like I won't upgrade to a PS5 slim disc edition until the end of this year/early next yr or GTA 6 release. This generation of gaming is a lame joke IMHO; Super Nintendo-PS4 console era gaming was amazing.
I still think there's some incredible games coming out now as opposed to the late 90s. Though, I still play those games. Some have aged incredibly well.
But the rationale for new hardware is weakening for sure.
Lol $1,200??? I bought it on release and it was 699$ I dont know where you paid double at but check your facts this is a console that just released 6 months ago and its msrp is $699, the 5 year old xbox console that has half the performance is 699$ now tell me where your justification comes in.?
Yeah, Zack is right. It's AUD. Apologies it was a little clunky to put in the headline. I'm Australian. In a lot of earlier articles about prices, I spell out AUD and USD. But in this one there's only the one mention a few pars down of the sales price to give you a hint it's AUD. Sorry if that was misleading!
About 40% of my readership is US-based. I'm usually a bit better as spelling out the exchange rate. If you check out my earlier piece on why gaming is getting more expensive I'm exhaustive with it! The PS5 price is in the first par with AUD and USD. https://infinitelives.substack.com/p/explainer-gamings-great-price-correction
But yeah, other factors -- such as minimum wage being higher for example -- do dilute it a little. Aus min wage is around $25 AUD an hour, and has generally increased with inflation.
We can afford more, so we're charged more (generally speaking). Whether that's fair? That's another matter.
Wow, that I did not know either. Didn't take that into consideration either. I guess no matter how you slice it. The cost of everything is rising. I was blessed when I bought mine kind of knowing inflation was rising and jumped on the PS5 Pro. But yes compared to here wagers are definitely higher than in your states. 😬
I think you missed that op has stated numerous times that he's Australian. The Ps5 pro launched at 1200 AUD. I only wish we all could get the same low prices the USA has historically enjoyed
Really great read, as always! And I feel this so much. I’m also the kind of person who enjoys tech upgrades, but only when they bring real experiential value. And that’s exactly what’s missing here.
The PS5 Pro feels like it exists in a strange middle ground: not quite for the hardcore visual purists (who already have high-end PCs), and not meaningful enough for average players to justify the spend. The promise of “no compromises” doesn’t hold up when the real-world payoff feels marginal, especially in a space where plug-and-play used to be a selling point.
I think you nailed it: the real issue isn’t raw power, it’s how Sony frames and supports that power. Without software that shows off the upgrade, or even subtle UX improvements that feel exclusive to Pro users, it’s hard to evangelize the product, even for fans who want to.
Middle-ground is right! It's weird. That said, Sony's market research has always been a little quirky. The PS Portal for instance, that's a niche product. But those who it fits love it.
And there's been plenty of compromises -- moved my PS5 Pro to an older larger TV last night, again spent 45 minutes in menus adjusting the picture.
Like you, I am always an early adopter for new tech. But I can never pull the trigger on a midlife refresh, especially since it just doesn’t seem to be like that much of a refresh! I also used to want a new iPhone every time they came out. I just got a 16? But I had my precious phone for 4 years before that. The tech upgrades simply stopped being something to marvel at.
It's wild that Sony bumped the price UP on the base model PS5 after being on sale for five years. That is not the way it is supposed to go!
And it was a substantial increase here in NZ. We're talking $50 for the disc model, pushing the price up to $950, and a huge $90 increase for the digital version, taking the console up to $860. Would love to see some sales data.
Not a PS5 owner, let alone a PS5 PRO owner, but I want to say that the gradual pc-ification of console gaming is absolutely bonkers. PC gamers are a weirdly over-educated demographic inside their niche who bear a lot of resemblance to Hot Rodders with how they talk about making obscure tweaks to their engines for returns that are somewhere between minimal and meaningful. It makes things very intimidating for newcomers who don't even know what a video card is, let alone what it does. We've seen a noticeable encroachment of technobabble into console games, but consoles themselves are still ultimately built on the premise of being user friendly. You plug it in, you load up the game, and everything works. The fact that performance and quality modes are increasingly the norm is a bad sign that Playstations are on course to become over-glorified steam boxes with fancier packaging
This is me. I will always nod my head when the PC gamers announce their superiority because they are correct. Nonetheless, I don’t care and just want a box with an on and off button that will play Final Fantasy and Street Fighter.
I read this comment yesterday and was nodding vigorously at it. Bang on.
If I'm building my PS5 from scratch, I'm invested. I'll happily tweak things for perfection. Here, I just want to turn it on and have it work with no tweaks... and increasingly that's not the case.
No reason at all to upgrade. I bought my PS5 as Blu-ray player, so the Pro version would cut out that function.
I too play Final Fantasy XIV (you said XVI in article), and the leap from PS4 Slim to PS5 was excellent. Glad to know I’m not missing anything with this upgrade.
I’m a long time PlayStation owner (circa 1998 when the DualShock was packed in with the original console). This is the first time since then that it’s looking like I will probably miss out on the PS5, and possibly whatever the next Sony console will be.
Both the base PS5 and the Pro are just too expensive a purchase to justify. I’m mean, even the Switch 2 is questionable for me, but less so at least.
Weirdly enough, I don’t even feel that bad at the thought of having to skip the PS5. But it still feels strange to not be planning how to purchase the latest PS console. I think I’m also worried that if I were to plunk down money on the PS5, the PS6 is suddenly going to be the next big thing before I would have gotten my monies worth of the PS5 Pro.
I'm not struggling with my PS5 Pro purchase in the least. Sold my Series X and accessories to get it. I'm thoroughly enjoying KCD2, Days Gone Remastered (with the latest patch), and Lies of P. I'm slowly picking away at Spider Man 2. It's the best console I've ever owned, and I've owned the all since the Atari 2600.
PC will always be better than console. And why did you pay $1200 for a ps5 pro when it retails at $700? I didn't see that in the article.
Aus prices!
Good article. I always thought I would buy the PS5 Pro - always planned too. Then I just... Didn't. And I don't feel the need too. It's strange, it's like it doesn't exist
I think Sony needs to do more to justify the upgrade... and just hasn't. Thanks for reading!
I'm still gaming on a PS4 Pro w/upgraded 1 tb SSD.......it looks like I won't upgrade to a PS5 slim disc edition until the end of this year/early next yr or GTA 6 release. This generation of gaming is a lame joke IMHO; Super Nintendo-PS4 console era gaming was amazing.
I still think there's some incredible games coming out now as opposed to the late 90s. Though, I still play those games. Some have aged incredibly well.
But the rationale for new hardware is weakening for sure.
Lol $1,200??? I bought it on release and it was 699$ I dont know where you paid double at but check your facts this is a console that just released 6 months ago and its msrp is $699, the 5 year old xbox console that has half the performance is 699$ now tell me where your justification comes in.?
Yeah, Zack is right. It's AUD. Apologies it was a little clunky to put in the headline. I'm Australian. In a lot of earlier articles about prices, I spell out AUD and USD. But in this one there's only the one mention a few pars down of the sales price to give you a hint it's AUD. Sorry if that was misleading!
Oh ok 👍 I apologize then I thought it was USD. I was going to say wow. Man I feel bad for you guys in Australia. 😮💨
Don't sweat it!
About 40% of my readership is US-based. I'm usually a bit better as spelling out the exchange rate. If you check out my earlier piece on why gaming is getting more expensive I'm exhaustive with it! The PS5 price is in the first par with AUD and USD. https://infinitelives.substack.com/p/explainer-gamings-great-price-correction
But yeah, other factors -- such as minimum wage being higher for example -- do dilute it a little. Aus min wage is around $25 AUD an hour, and has generally increased with inflation.
We can afford more, so we're charged more (generally speaking). Whether that's fair? That's another matter.
Wow, that I did not know either. Didn't take that into consideration either. I guess no matter how you slice it. The cost of everything is rising. I was blessed when I bought mine kind of knowing inflation was rising and jumped on the PS5 Pro. But yes compared to here wagers are definitely higher than in your states. 😬
I just want you to know that as a Canadian, I appreciate your plight. Everything is more expensive here as well
I think you missed that op has stated numerous times that he's Australian. The Ps5 pro launched at 1200 AUD. I only wish we all could get the same low prices the USA has historically enjoyed
Really great read, as always! And I feel this so much. I’m also the kind of person who enjoys tech upgrades, but only when they bring real experiential value. And that’s exactly what’s missing here.
The PS5 Pro feels like it exists in a strange middle ground: not quite for the hardcore visual purists (who already have high-end PCs), and not meaningful enough for average players to justify the spend. The promise of “no compromises” doesn’t hold up when the real-world payoff feels marginal, especially in a space where plug-and-play used to be a selling point.
I think you nailed it: the real issue isn’t raw power, it’s how Sony frames and supports that power. Without software that shows off the upgrade, or even subtle UX improvements that feel exclusive to Pro users, it’s hard to evangelize the product, even for fans who want to.
Anyway, great piece! Keep it up!
Middle-ground is right! It's weird. That said, Sony's market research has always been a little quirky. The PS Portal for instance, that's a niche product. But those who it fits love it.
And there's been plenty of compromises -- moved my PS5 Pro to an older larger TV last night, again spent 45 minutes in menus adjusting the picture.
Like you, I am always an early adopter for new tech. But I can never pull the trigger on a midlife refresh, especially since it just doesn’t seem to be like that much of a refresh! I also used to want a new iPhone every time they came out. I just got a 16? But I had my precious phone for 4 years before that. The tech upgrades simply stopped being something to marvel at.
My phone is so crucial to my job that upgrading it is very much a work expense. My phone breaks or runs out of battery, I can't do my job.
But gaming consoles.... that's an indulgence. Perhaps an overindulgence here.
It's wild that Sony bumped the price UP on the base model PS5 after being on sale for five years. That is not the way it is supposed to go!
And it was a substantial increase here in NZ. We're talking $50 for the disc model, pushing the price up to $950, and a huge $90 increase for the digital version, taking the console up to $860. Would love to see some sales data.
NZ prices break my brain. I may look into why at some stage. Whether its shipping, market size, logistics? Or all the above?
Believe me, every time I write a dollar sign in this Substack, I spare a though what what the price would be in NZ.
The best guess would be an analyst call on it -- Sony would never say. But unsure if there's any NZ gaming analysts.
Not a PS5 owner, let alone a PS5 PRO owner, but I want to say that the gradual pc-ification of console gaming is absolutely bonkers. PC gamers are a weirdly over-educated demographic inside their niche who bear a lot of resemblance to Hot Rodders with how they talk about making obscure tweaks to their engines for returns that are somewhere between minimal and meaningful. It makes things very intimidating for newcomers who don't even know what a video card is, let alone what it does. We've seen a noticeable encroachment of technobabble into console games, but consoles themselves are still ultimately built on the premise of being user friendly. You plug it in, you load up the game, and everything works. The fact that performance and quality modes are increasingly the norm is a bad sign that Playstations are on course to become over-glorified steam boxes with fancier packaging
This is me. I will always nod my head when the PC gamers announce their superiority because they are correct. Nonetheless, I don’t care and just want a box with an on and off button that will play Final Fantasy and Street Fighter.
I read this comment yesterday and was nodding vigorously at it. Bang on.
If I'm building my PS5 from scratch, I'm invested. I'll happily tweak things for perfection. Here, I just want to turn it on and have it work with no tweaks... and increasingly that's not the case.