On Tuesday, Sony announced the release of an upgraded flagship games console, the PlayStation 5 Pro, set to launch on November 7. The new version will feature enhanced graphics and AI capabilities.
This year has been challenging for Sony’s gaming division, with the PlayStation 5 missing sales targets and the company announcing 900 job cuts in February. The gaming industry faces a broader downturn after the surge in investment during the Covid pandemic has waned.
During a brief video presentation, PlayStation’s lead architect, Mark Cerny, demonstrated the new console’s advanced features. Priced between $700 and 800 euros, the PlayStation 5 Pro costs about 250 euros more than the existing model. Cerny highlighted significant hardware improvements accelerating game performance, enhancing light rendering, and providing sharper AI-enhanced images.
“Simply put, it’s the most powerful console we’ve ever built and a worthy addition to the PS5 family,” he stated.
Analyst Daniel Ahmad from Niko Partners noted that Sony previously attempted to boost its console sales with a pro version in 2016, which had minimal impact due to its niche market positioning. Ahmad suggests that lower prices on base models and games like the upcoming “Grand Theft Auto” sequel could be more effective in driving sales.
Sony confirmed that PlayStation 5 games would be compatible with the new console, which will also offer enhanced versions of titles like “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows,” “Hogwarts Legacy,” and “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.”
Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Platform Business Group at Sony Interactive Entertainment, expressed pride in the PS5’s industry impact. “The console has allowed game creators to realize their vision and reach millions globally,” Nishino said, adding that the new hardware would further “unleash the possibilities” for developers.
Despite recent challenges, PlayStation has seen mixed fortunes. The Japanese publisher withdrew the space-based shooter “Concord” just two weeks after its release due to poor sales, a project eight years in the making. Conversely, “Astro Bot,” a game developed by a subsidiary in Japan exclusively for its console, received high praise, earning a Metacritic score of 94 out of 100, ranking it among the top recent releases.
