Topic: PS5 Pro's "eye watering, face melting, spine crushing price tag"

For years since I bought my Switch, I've been dreaming of one day getting a "next gen" console.

At first, the idea of getting a Series X to have access to Game Pass excited me.

Eventually I realized that the PS5 has the very best exclusives, and it became the better "one day..." pick for me.

But today...Sony announced the price of their new console. Guys, the price is NUTS! And then I learned that, that HUGE price? Doesn't include the price of an optional disc drive! And then I learned, that it also doesn't include the price of an optional stand!

All told, with taxes, in Canadian dollars, that comes to $1,250!

And that doesn't include any games! With taxes, "next gen" games will be $110 a piece!

So you might be saying: "So what? If the PS5 Pro doesn't seem worth it to you, then you don't need to buy it."

Right, but then what do you expect the price of the PS6 (expected in as little as 3 years) to be? At least as expensive. And what do you think Microsoft will do? They can't lose the arms race, so future Xboxes will be the same insane price point.

It is today that I decided...I'm Nintendo all the way. Their philosophy, of making systems for modest families is the clear winner today. I'm sure Nintendo headquarters had a fun night of sake and karaoke to celebrate. A lot of people are going to be steered to the Switch 2 now.

I no longer covet those next gen consoles. If Red Dead Redemption II, Grand Theft Auto V, Baldur's Gate III, Elden Ring etc., come to Switch 2? Then I'll happily buy them. If not? Then I guess I'll never play them. I'm at peace with that.

Make mine Mario.

I've been happily Nintendo exclusive for years now as my main interest tends to be in Japanese and indie games and I've preferred playing games in handheld mode than on a TV since the 3DS basically. I recently built a gaming PC though just because I had space for a desk in my room and enough money to spare for it so figured why not. Now between that and Nintendo's systems I feel pretty set to be able to play whatever I want. Microsoft and Sony's systems don't appeal to me in the slightest.

I'll either be getting the PS5 Pro as a side console next to my Switch OLED, or a PC. I'd love to have wireless connectivity for Quest 3 on PC to gain a lot more power, So i can finally sell off my PSVR2, because lets face it, Q3 does nearly everything better making the headset feel as if it's 1-2 generations ahead.

But at the same time, i vastly prefer the idea of just buying a plug and play console, ala PS5 Pro and not dealing with the hassle of PC, nor the mini-ritual of getting a game up and going after all the tinkering and what have you.

But ya, I couldn't roll with just Switch, because then I'd be missing out on those glorious modern Resident Evil games. Capcom has been knocking it out of the park since RE7 VR. Along with much better performing versions of certain 3rd party titles.

There's also Silent Hill 2, the latest Astro Bot, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, Slitterhead, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Judas, Better looking & performing versions of Sonic X Shadow Generations & The Plucky Squire, John Carpenter's Toxic Commando and more.

Utter insanity. Man, it seems like every week Sony reminds me why I'm glad I no longer invest in the Playstation ecosystem(games like Astrobot being the extremely rare exception).

It feels like we're barely entering a point where devs. are moving away from PS4 development consistently, and its already time for a console revision??!? I just can't understand this race for power, where it's less about just making games and more about framerate, graphics, realism etc.

I've been a Nintendo fan since the SNES days, but now more than ever, I appreciate what they do.

@KryptoniteKrunch
PS5 Pro is just another option, an expensive option, but still just an option the way Switch OLED & Switch Lite were. Nobody that's a part of Sony's eco system is forced or obligated to buy it. it's those rabbid younger fanboys that feel like they have to buy everything Sony spews out or they'll feel like they've been left behind.

I look at the PS5 Pro as an easy PC. SO many PS5 games can't even run properly simply because the console isn't powerful enough, or one can argue that it's biting more than it can chew. You tend to see Graphics/Resolution Mode or performance mode always rear their head in numerous games. PS5 Pro will be able to give you both, i'm sure, in many cases.

Still, $949 CAD for a console is unheard of it. This must be thee' most expensive video game console of all time. And yet, I'll still be scooping one up. And I've said this before, but i can't stand what Sony has become since PS2. The fun 1995 PS1 Sony, that embodied the glorious 90's is longer a thing. They need to lighten up, take a cue from their fun PS1 persona and catch a rainbow or two.

Because that PS5 Pro unveiling was the bleakest, dismal, ominous, depressing, lazy, unexciting pile of trash state of play, well, since the last one. They're all terrible. The Vibe is so soulless, as if androids have taken over Sony HQ. Here's your black and white sterile character-less box! lol Topped with the presenter, acting like an uncool version of Garth from Waynes World. Console unvielings, Commercials, adds(etc) were so much greater in the early to mid 90's, plus late 80's. You can't even compare it.

By November, I'll be rocking the following combo below.

Switch OLED
PS5 Pro + PSVR2
Quest 3 - (Wish I could connect this wireless to PS5 Pro instead of using PSVR2, but alas.)

I probably don't have much to contribute here considering I'm pretty much done with Sony this generation. But yeah, the price is pretty mad. Especially here in the UK - to give Americans some perspective, adjusted for PPP the RRP of £700 is ~$1050.

I'm sure there's an audience for this, and it is nice to have options on the market. There will certainly be people willing to pay top dollar for the highest performance. But if we're at a point where advances in tech aren't reflected in lowering prices, and AAA developers are continually complaining about rising development costs and the astronomical number of sales they need just to break even...I really wonder how sustainable chasing graphical fidelity is at this point. Especially considering the diminishing returns we've been getting with each (semi-)generational leap.

@MontyCircus
Remember, there is the cheaper games by 3rd party developers, mostly the games for kids like Paw Patrol or Barbie or Ryan games, etc.
They will not cost more than $70 for each game.
Peoples mostly forgot this, the 3rd party games for kids.

@Buizel What makes me question this further is yes the graphical ceiling has been rammed into with the force of a moving train and Ray tracing isn't quite the hit it was expected to be given it's such an expensive thing to render, yet developers still clearly prioritise fidelity over performance on hardware that can't hit 4K too often, but could quite easily hit 60fps and above with some effort

But what we have are games trying to hit 4K as a priority with a performance mode slapped on at the end by dropping settings until the game cancelled at least try to hit 60fps.

And then Sony just admitted that 75% of users opt for performance mode so the PS5 Pro is so they can do both via what is effectively brute force?

Where is the optimisation? Working around your limitations? Going where the market, according to that 75% of users, wants us to go? It'll help keep the budgets down because you're being told no we don't need the high resolutions and all the fancy features just make the game run well.

But Sony won't change course. They cant. Their base has been told for nearly two decades now that what Sony offers is fidelity and high quality cinematic experiences that cost your vital organs and a small loan to even make if you're lucky. So they can't back out now.

Thank god Nintendo dropped out of the spec race. It means all the profits from a game aren't just to try and get the next cutting edge one from that same studio out, it can be used to fund other stuff.

And hell, this is the first generation where it was cheapest to buy the system at launch.

Looked up the Australian prices. $1200AU, $1360AU with the optical drive. Wow

I know I'm clearly not the target market for Sony's products but all I can think of looking at that price are all of the other things you can buy instead for that price. I could upgrade my PC (re-using my GPU) with a Ryzen 9700X, compatible motherboard, and 64GB DDR5 RAM kit for a nice work PC productivity boost. Or I could pick up a 27", 1440p, 240Hz, QD-OLED monitor. Or I could buy myself a new, decent, mid-range phone for ~$500AU and have money to spare for another mobile device of around that tier which may or may not be releasing around April-May next year.....

I think Nintendo will be in a good spot going into next year if this is the way that Sony is trying to bend the narrative

@skywake even if someone wants a “pre-built”, modern gaming that’s more “console-like”, is cheap (relatively) and is decently mid-range, steam deck has been great on my end. Ran most dont games with little to no problem (Some recommend specific builds of Proton, but I never enabled it with Rift Apart and it was fine). Though I’d probably recommend the OLED. (I have LCD). At least in Kuwait it’s fairly cheap, I don’t know about prices in Australia.

Though it might ultimately be wiser to buy something you can upgrade. Unless there’s a scene for upgrading steam deck parts.

It is expensive, but there have been expensive consoles before. What bothered me about the reveal was the way they've set it up so that they could gouge on accessories. The PS5 Pro is now their premium console. Having the drive and stand be separate accessories is the wrong way to sell their premium console. And I suspect there's quite a mark up on those items. The drive being optional should be for their lowest offering, not their highest. I immediately thought of Sony's strategy for the Vita, opting to heavily price gouge for their memory cards. It seems to be Sony's way, especially when they are coming off successes, in this case the PS4.

Personally, I like the idea of having a PC as a supplementary machine in this case. Of course, that depends on how comfortable the individual is with that. Gaming on PC is simpler than it used to be, but some people don't want to deal with that. But the reason it is a better option than ever is because even Sony is bringing some of their Playstation properties to PC. Microsoft has already been doing this. Clearly there's a trend towards PC if even Sony sees it.

@Haruki_NLI This is a good point. Tbh I'm certainly not the target audience for this machine - I go for Performance Mode every time - not just because I value 60 fps over graphical fidelity - but because, outside of a side-by-side comparison...I can't really tell the difference in graphical fidelity between the two modes. Performance Mode looks totally fine to me.

Take my perspective here with a pinch of salt (there's always someone saying the current graphical leap is unimportant / insignificant / that they "just can't see it"; and part of this could be due to my lower-range 4K TV) — but it really has me wondering how many people are aching to see Fidelity Mode in 60 fps?

Yeah, I have no intention of picking up a ps5 anytime soon. Frankly I'm grateful they've been continuing to support the ps4 for as long as they have. I picked up a used ps4 years ago now, and I've been enjoying it ever since. Big games like god of war ragnarok and Resident evil village and 4 remake have all released on both the ps4 and 5. Although that does seem to be stopping now. That being said, there isn't really anything exclusive to ps5/XBSX atm that's enticing enough for me to purchase one. Space Marine 2 looks cool, but that's about it. I've never been one to need the absolute bleeding edge of gaming hardware.

Looking for a companion piece(s), aka a '2nd & 3rd fiddle' next to my Switch OLED, and am torn between these two options. >

PS5 Pro + PSVR2, & Quest 3(Stand Alone)
Or,
PC + Quest 3

Ideally, I wish I could just connect my Quest 3 to the PS5 Pro for high end VR graphics, and sell off my PSVR2, but that will never come to fruition, at least for this generation, unless Sony has a change of heart and whips out a PSVR3 for the PS6 down the line.

I just prefer the idea of a more affordable(Vs PC) plug n' play console, rather than going through the hassle of purchasing a PC, and dealing with the mini ritual of firing up a game, possible bugs, crashing, the fact that it will cost more, and whatever else. It's really just the Quest 3 Steam VR compatibility that peaks my interest. If that weren't a thing, I would just opt for the PS5 Pro this Nov 7 and call it a day. But at the same time, Steam VR is a mega-niche, that will never sky rocket in popularity due to PC's obvious friction points.

VR will only ever take off with a stand alone headset, or better yet, a headset with a wireless connection to a power console. Aside from headsets desperately needing to transition into thicker glasses(Quest 5 will get there in 2029), along with a solid steady flow of actual 3rd party support, more games supporting traditional controls, amidst the giant and driven budget indie cesspool. Mario Kart VR, Pokemon Snap VR, Metroid Prime 5 VR, the possibilities are incredibly exciting, and will most likely happen by the earlier 2030's.

I can see what Sony is doing here, they are targeting the Sony enthusiasts with that price tag. There is no way a casual gamer or someone who wants a PS5 as a second console will pay for this it just doesn't make sense. I can see alot of people who own PS5 upgrading by trading in there current PS5, in soke form or another for a Pro which of course will bring down the price somewhat. But still. Even not owning a PS5 doesn't make me want a Pro if anything if I wanted a PS5 I'd go for the non Pro model.

So yeah bravo to them for targeting their main customers.

@Tasuki this is what I keep thinking. I’m shocked Sony not only reverted so hard to the 599 ps3 days but it’s like they’re in their final boss status of consumerism. Digital, no disc drive version, no stand bundled, pre-orders being changed last minute plus some games getting enhancements without 60fps. What a bizarro world.

All this does is incentivize me to save more money for a Steam Deck, because with Sony and Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot so much that it's not even funny anymore, it just seems that the best gaming setup nowadays is with a PC and a Nintendo.

@Tasuki
I'm the furthest thing from a Sony enthusiast, but I'm looking for a more powerful plug n' play 'easy' PC to go along side my Switch OLED, and the PS5 Pro is it. Sony's got Haptics(An evolution of HD Rumble), adaptive triggers, Gyro & Supports PSVR2. Aside from being the most powerful console on the market.

Games that originally supported 60fps, may jump up to 90-120fps depending on the game, some games that were barely pushing past 1080p @60fps, can now hit native 4K @60, or some will now jump from 30 to 60fps for much more demanding titles. Some games will now technically look better and yaddah yaddah. It all makes a difference. If you have a 120fps 4K QD-OLED/OLED TV than this console is a no brainer if you want the best frame rates, resolution and graphics. PS5 Pro will only cost me $700 CAD after i sell my launch PS5 anyways, so it's not anihilating my wallet or anything.

And I was most definitely a die hard PS'1' goober head back in the day, that's for sure. I Loved that thing in the mid to later 90's. It was without a doubt revolutionary, especially if you skipped the Sega Saturn's first 3 months where it got a head start, but even if you had the Saturn day one like I did, the PS1 still offered more impressive and refined 3D visuals. It had such a great launch line up consisting of Rayman, Battle Arena Toshinden, Ridge Racer, ESPN Extreme Games, Project Raiden & Jumping Flash, followed up with Resident 'frikkin' Evil 1. What a revolution that game was. The true birth of survival horror. It's like you were partaking in some weird B-tier Geoerge A Romero movie. lol Incredible stuff back in 96.

I felt like it was 1 of the two last amazing non-nintendo consoles to ever come out, with the final being the Sega Dreamcast.

@N00BiSH saving extra money for the OLED version would also be great (although LCD been serving me quite well so I can still recommend that)

@Yousef- it's the battery life that I'm more interested in. As the owner of a first edition Switch I'd like to enjoy the benefit of longer play time without worrying about charging every other hour