The recent unveiling of the PS5 Pro has sparked a flurry of discussions among industry analysts regarding its anticipated sales performance. Additionally, the latest iteration of the PS5 has reignited earlier speculations about potential new developments in the PlayStation ecosystem.
Analyst Weighs in on PS5 Pro Sales Trajectory with Price Hike
Sony's latest flagship console, the PS5 Pro, priced at $700, has been officially unveiled, prompting industry analysts to project its sales performance. Despite the significant price increase, Ampere Analysis market research director Piers Harding-Rolls anticipates that the PS5 Pro will achieve sales figures comparable to those of the PS4 Pro. "The price point of the PS5 Pro will inevitably generate a lot of discussion," Harding-Rolls noted, as reported by VGC. He highlighted that the price difference between the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro ranges from 40-50%, a much larger gap than the 33% difference between the PS4 and PS4 Pro at their respective launches.
Ampere Analysis predicts that Sony will 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 pointed out that at the time of the PS4 Pro's launch, it was priced at $399, while the slim PS4 was available for $299, having been reduced from the original PS4's launch price of $399.
Harding-Rolls also suggested that the higher price of the PS5 Pro might temper demand, yet he 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 that the PS5 Pro will have a sell-through of approximately 13 million units within five years. Sell-through, in this context, refers to a transaction where a consumer purchases goods directly from a retailer.
In other news, PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny has revealed that the PS5 Pro will enhance the performance of PSVR2 games. In a statement to Cnet, Cerny explained that the PS5 Pro's enhanced GPU will allow for higher resolution outputs for PSVR2 games, though no specific titles have been confirmed to receive this upgrade.
Cerny also mentioned that the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-assisted upscaling feature of the PS5 Pro, will be compatible with the PSVR2 in the future. Beyond the PSVR2, 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 possible PS handheld capable of running PS5 games. Although no official announcements have been made, the advanced capabilities of the PS5 Pro could pave the way for an evolution in Sony's handheld gaming offerings.
