The recent unveiling of the PS5 Pro has sparked a flurry of discussions around its expected sales performance, while also reviving earlier speculations about potential new hardware from Sony.
Analyst Weighs in on PS5 Pro Sales Trajectory with Price Hike
With the official launch of the $700 PS5 Pro, industry analysts have projected that Sony's latest iteration of its flagship console will achieve sales figures comparable to those of the PS4 Pro, despite the increased price tag. "The price point of the PS5 Pro is bound to generate significant discussion," remarked Piers Harding-Rolls, market research director at Ampere Analysis, as reported by VGC. He highlighted that the price difference between the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro ranges from 40-50%, a notable jump compared to the 33% difference between the PS4 and PS4 Pro at their respective launches.
Ampere Analysis anticipates that Sony will sell approximately 1.3 million units of the PS5 Pro during its November 2024 launch window, which is about 400,000 units fewer than the PS4 Pro's launch sales in 2016. Harding-Rolls pointed out that the PS4 Pro was priced at $399 at launch, while the slim PS4 was available for $299, a price reduced from the original PS4's $399 launch price.
Harding-Rolls further noted that the higher price of the PS5 Pro might dampen demand, yet he believes that for dedicated PlayStation fans, price is less of a barrier. Sony managed to sell around 14.5 million units of the PS4 Pro, which represented about 12% of the total PS4 console sales. Ampere Analysis predicts that the PS5 Pro could see a sell-through of approximately 13 million units over the next five years. Sell-through refers to "a transaction in which a consumer buys goods or products directly from a retailer."
Elsewhere, Mark Cerny, the lead architect of the PS5, mentioned that the PS5 Pro would enhance PSVR2 gaming experiences through performance upgrades. In a statement to Cnet, Cerny explained that the PS5 Pro's enhanced GPU would support higher resolution outputs for PSVR2 games, though specific titles have not been confirmed yet.
Cerny also indicated that the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-assisted upscaling feature of the PS5 Pro, would eventually be compatible with the PSVR2. Additionally, the PS5 Pro is designed to work seamlessly with other PS5 accessories, including the PS Portal, Sony's remote player for the PS5.
In light of the PS5 Pro's compatibility with the PS Portal, rumors have surfaced about a possible new portable PlayStation console. Earlier reports suggested the development of a PS handheld capable of running PS5 games. While no official announcements have been made, the advanced capabilities of the PS5 Pro might pave the way for an evolved handheld gaming experience.
