PS5 Pro Reception Fails to Dent Sales Forecasts

Despite lukewarm initial reception, the PS5 Pro's sales projections remain robust. Following its recent unveiling at a $700 price point, analysts predict sales comparable to the PS4 Pro, despite the significant price increase. Ampere Analysis' Piers Harding-Rolls notes a much larger price gap between the PS5 and PS5 Pro (40-50%) than existed between the PS4 and PS4 Pro. While acknowledging that this price may dampen demand, Harding-Rolls anticipates strong sales among dedicated PlayStation enthusiasts. The firm projects approximately 1.3 million PS5 Pro units sold during its November 2024 launch window, around 400,000 less than the PS4 Pro's launch sales in 2016. This aligns with the PS4 Pro's overall market share (approximately 12% of total PS4 sales) and projected five-year sell-through of roughly 13 million units. Sell-through, in this context, refers to direct consumer purchases from retailers.

Beyond sales forecasts, the PS5 Pro's enhanced capabilities are fueling speculation about a potential new PlayStation handheld. Lead architect Mark Cerny confirmed performance improvements for PSVR2 games, citing higher resolution outputs enabled by the upgraded GPU. He also mentioned compatibility with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the AI-assisted upscaling feature. The PS5 Pro's compatibility with existing accessories like the PS Portal further fuels rumors of a future portable console, echoing earlier reports of a potential PS5 handheld capable of running PS5 games. While unconfirmed, the PS5 Pro's features could indeed revitalize PlayStation's handheld offerings.