Tokyo, Sony announced the upcoming release of the PlayStation 5 Pro, an upgraded version of its flagship console, boasting enhanced graphics and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The console is set to hit the shelves on November 7 at a price point of $700 and 800 euros, significantly higher than the current PlayStation 5.
The announcement comes at a challenging time for Sony’s gaming division. Earlier this year, the company missed its sales targets for the PlayStation 5 and announced 900 job cuts in February. The gaming sector, in general, is grappling with the aftershocks of a post-COVID investment downturn.
In a short video presentation, PlayStation’s lead architect, Mark Cerny, showcased the advanced features of the new console. He highlighted the improved hardware that enables faster game performance, superior light rendering, and an AI system designed for sharper image quality. “Simply put, it’s the most powerful console we’ve ever built and a worthy edition to the PS5 family,” Cerny said.
Sony also confirmed that existing PlayStation 5 games would be compatible with the new console. Enhanced versions of popular titles such as “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows,” “Hogwarts Legacy,” and “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” will also be available. Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Platform Business Group at Sony Interactive Entertainment, expressed pride in the PS5’s impact on the gaming industry. He emphasized that the new console would enable game creators to “unleash the possibilities” of even more advanced hardware.
Despite the optimistic announcement, Sony’s gaming division has experienced a tumultuous period. The Japanese publisher recently pulled its space-based shooter game “Concord” from the market just two weeks post-release due to poor sales, despite an eight-year development period. However, the company saw a silver lining when “Astro Bot,” an exclusive developed by a Sony subsidiary in Japan, received critical acclaim. The game achieved a stellar 94 out of 100 score on Metacritic, earning a place among the best-reviewed recent releases.
As the industry awaits the release of “Grand Theft Auto 6,” experts suggest that a lower price on base models and blockbuster games will be key to driving PlayStation 5 sales. Sony’s latest move with the PlayStation 5 Pro aims to regain market momentum and offer gamers a more compelling and technologically advanced experience.