PS5 Pro Sales Defy Weak Initial Reception

With the recent launch of the PS5 Pro, analysts assess its projected sales. And elsewhere, the newest PS5 model reignites earlier speculation.

Analyst Assesses PS5 Pro Sales Trajectory Amidst Price IncreasePS5 Pro's Enhanced Capabilities Revive Rumors of a New “PS5 Handheld”

With the recent official unveiling of the $700 PS5 Pro, industry analysts have projected Sony's latest flagship console to reach similar sales to the PS4 Pro, despite the price increase. "The PS5 Pro's price will inevitably cause much discussion," Ampere Analysis market research director Piers Harding-Rolls said, according to VGC. "The price difference between the PS5 and PS5 Pro is 40-50%, significantly more than the PS4 and PS4 Pro at launch."

The firm expects Sony to sell about 1.3 million PS5 Pro units during its November 2024 launch, about 400,000 fewer than the PS4 Pro at launch in 2016. "In the US, the PS4 Pro launched at $399**, and the slim PS4 was **$299, a 33% difference. The slim PS4's price dropped from the original PS4's $399 launch price," Piers said.

The analyst added that the PS5 Pro's price may dampen demand, "but for PlayStation enthusiasts, pricing is less of a concern," Piers concluded. Sony sold about 14.5 million PS4 Pro units. According to Ampere Analysis, the PS4 Pro accounted for roughly 12% of total PS4 sales, with an expected sell-through* of "about 13 million units" in 5 years.
Sell-through* as defined, refers to "a transaction in which a consumer buys goods or products directly from a retailer."

Elsewhere, PS5 chief architect Mark Cerny said that the PS5 Pro will boost PSVR2 games through performance improvements. Cerny, in a statement to news outlet Cnet, said that the PS5 Pro's upgraded GPU will enable higher-resolution outputs for games on the PSVR2, although no specific PSVR2 games receiving this support have been confirmed.

Cerny reportedly stated that the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the PS5 Pro's AI-assisted upscaling feature, will be compatible and function on the PSVR2 down the line. Apart from the PSVR2, PS5 Pro is made compatible with other PS5 accessories such as the PS Portal, the company's PS5 remote player.

In relation to the PS5 Pro's compatibility with the PS Portal, recent reports have suggested that a rumored new "portable PlayStation console" could be emerging as a future product. Earlier in the year, reports emerged of a rumored PS handheld that could potentially run PS5 games. Though nothing has been confirmed nor announced, the PS5 Pro's expanded capabilities and features could possibly revitalize and reshape its handheld line.