Sony announced on Tuesday that it will release an upgraded version of its flagship gaming console, the PlayStation 5 Pro, on November 7. This new version promises enhanced graphics and AI capabilities, positioning it as a significant advancement over the current PlayStation 5.
The company’s gaming division has faced challenges this year, including the PlayStation 5 missing its sales targets and Sony announcing layoffs of 900 employees in February. The gaming industry as a whole is experiencing a slowdown, with much of the investment that flowed into the sector during the Covid pandemic now having dried up.
In a brief video presentation, PlayStation’s lead architect, Mark Cerny, showcased the improvements of the new PlayStation 5 Pro, which will be priced at $700 or 800 euros—around 250 euros more than the standard PlayStation 5. Cerny highlighted the console’s ability to run games faster, offer better light rendering, and incorporate AI-powered enhancements for sharper visuals.
“Simply put, it’s the most powerful console we’ve ever built, and a valuable addition to the PS5 family,” said Cerny.
Analyst Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners pointed out that Sony had previously attempted to boost console sales with a “Pro” version, releasing the PlayStation 4 Pro in 2016. However, the PlayStation 4 Pro had limited success, as Ahmad noted on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as “a premium product tailored for a niche audience.” Ahmad suggested that reducing the price of the base PS5 model and the release of major titles like “GTA6” would have a more significant impact on sales.
In an official statement accompanying the announcement, Sony confirmed that PlayStation 5 games would be compatible with the new Pro version. The statement also teased enhanced versions of popular titles, including 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 success of the PlayStation 5. He highlighted how the console has enabled game creators to “realize their vision and reach millions of players around the world,” and that the upgraded hardware would “unleash even more possibilities” for future game development.
Despite the excitement surrounding the new release, PlayStation has faced a rollercoaster few weeks. Earlier this month, Sony pulled the space-based shooter game Concord just two weeks after its release due to poor sales, despite the game taking eight years to develop. On the same day, Astro Bot, an exclusive PlayStation title developed by a Sony subsidiary in Japan, received critical acclaim, with a Metacritic score of 94 out of 100, ranking it among the highest-rated recent releases.
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