PlayStation Boss Says PS5 Pro Rumors Not Slowing Sales

Recent PS5 Pro sales projections remain strong despite mixed initial reception. Analysts offer insights into the anticipated sales figures and the console's impact on other PlayStation products.

Analyst Projections for PS5 Pro Sales: A Pricey Proposition

PS5 Pro's Enhanced Features Fuel Speculation of a New Handheld

Despite its $700 price tag, the PS5 Pro is projected to achieve sales comparable to the PS4 Pro, according to Ampere Analysis. Market research director Piers Harding-Rolls notes a significant price difference between the PS5 and PS5 Pro (40-50%), far exceeding the PS4 and PS4 Pro launch gap.

Ampere Analysis predicts approximately 1.3 million PS5 Pro units sold during its November 2024 launch window – 400,000 fewer than the PS4 Pro's launch sales in 2016. Harding-Rolls highlights the price disparity, suggesting it might dampen demand, but believes PlayStation enthusiasts will be less price-sensitive. The PS4 Pro ultimately sold around 14.5 million units, representing roughly 12% of total PS4 sales, with an estimated 13 million units sold over five years. Sell-through, in this context, refers to direct consumer purchases from retailers.

PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny confirmed that the PS5 Pro will enhance PSVR2 gaming via performance boosts. Higher resolution outputs for PSVR2 games are expected thanks to the improved GPU, although specific titles haven't been announced. Cerny also mentioned that PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the PS5 Pro's AI upscaling technology, will be compatible with PSVR2. The PS5 Pro also boasts compatibility with other PS5 accessories, including the PS Portal.

This PS Portal compatibility, coupled with previous rumors of a new PlayStation handheld capable of running PS5 games, has reignited speculation about a potential portable PlayStation console. While unconfirmed, the PS5 Pro's capabilities could significantly influence the development of future handheld devices.