PS5 Pro Sales Unaffected Despite Mixed Reviews

Recent PS5 Pro sales projections remain strong despite mixed initial reception. Analysts offer insights into its anticipated market performance, while the console's features fuel speculation about a potential new handheld device.

Analyst Predictions for PS5 Pro Sales: Navigating the Price Point

PS5 Pro's Enhanced Capabilities Spark Renewed Interest in a Potential PS5 Handheld

Despite its $700 price tag, the PS5 Pro is projected to achieve sales comparable to the PS4 Pro, according to Ampere Analysis. While acknowledging the significant price difference between the PS5 and PS5 Pro (40-50%), significantly higher than the PS4 and PS4 Pro launch gap, market research director Piers Harding-Rolls anticipates approximately 1.3 million PS5 Pro units sold during its November 2024 launch window. This represents a shortfall of about 400,000 units compared to the PS4 Pro's launch sales in 2016.

Harding-Rolls notes that the price may dampen demand, but believes PlayStation enthusiasts will be less price-sensitive. The PS4 Pro ultimately sold around 14.5 million units, accounting for approximately 12% of total PS4 sales, with projected sales of around 13 million units over five years. (Sell-through refers to direct consumer purchases from retailers).

PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny highlights PS5 Pro's enhanced capabilities for PSVR2, promising higher resolution outputs due to the improved GPU. He also confirmed compatibility with PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the AI-assisted upscaling feature. The PS5 Pro maintains compatibility with existing PS5 accessories, including the PS Portal.

This PS Portal compatibility, coupled with previous rumors of a portable PlayStation console capable of running PS5 games, has reignited speculation about a potential new handheld device. While unconfirmed, the PS5 Pro's advanced features suggest a possible evolution of Sony's handheld gaming offerings.