PS5 Pro's Poor Reception Does Nothing to Slow Sales Projections

The recent unveiling of the PS5 Pro has sparked significant interest and speculation among industry analysts and gamers alike. As Sony introduces this new iteration of their flagship console, discussions are rife about its potential sales performance and the implications of its enhanced features.

Analyst Weighs in on PS5 Pro Sales Trajectory with Price Hike

PS5 Pro Expanded Capabilities Revive Rumors of New “PS5 Handheld”

Sony's latest addition to its console lineup, the PS5 Pro, priced at $700, has been officially unveiled, prompting industry analysts to project its sales trajectory. According to Ampere Analysis market research director Piers Harding-Rolls, speaking to VGC, the PS5 Pro's price point is expected to generate considerable discussion due to its significant increase over the standard PS5. Harding-Rolls noted, "The price point differential between the PS5 and PS5 Pro is between 40-50%, which is significantly more than the differential between the PS4 and PS4 Pro at launch."

Despite the higher cost, Ampere Analysis predicts that Sony will sell approximately 1.3 million units of the PS5 Pro during its launch window in November 2024. This figure falls short by about 400,000 units compared to the PS4 Pro's launch sales in 2016. Harding-Rolls explained the context, stating, "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."

Harding-Rolls also suggested that the elevated price of the PS5 Pro might dampen demand among some consumers. However, he added, "but for PlayStation enthusiasts the pricing is less of a consideration." The PS4 Pro, in comparison, saw sales of around 14.5 million units, representing roughly 12% of the total PS4 console sales, with an expected sell-through of about 13 million units over five years. Sell-through, as defined, refers to "a transaction in which a consumer buys goods or products directly from a retailer."

In other developments, PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny highlighted the PS5 Pro's potential to enhance PSVR2 gaming experiences through improved performance. In a statement to Cnet, Cerny mentioned that the PS5 Pro's advanced GPU would enable higher resolution outputs for PSVR2 games, although no specific titles have been confirmed for this enhancement.

Cerny also revealed that the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the PS5 Pro's AI-assisted upscaling feature, would 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 play device.

The compatibility of the PS5 Pro with the PS Portal has fueled speculation about a rumored new "portable PlayStation console." Earlier reports hinted at the possibility of a PS handheld capable of running PS5 games. While no official announcements have been made, the enhanced capabilities of the PS5 Pro could potentially pave the way for an innovative handheld device in Sony's gaming ecosystem.