Topic: PS5 Pro was a mistake (same will be with Xbox Series Alternative)

"We have released a mid-gen upgrade for those who want even more graphics" alright, you have just created additional pain in the ass for developers because their main and most popular console still will be base PS5.
There is around 50.000.000 units sold of base PS5. And soon they will release PS5 Pro, which will have very, very small sales compared to Base model. Same was with PS4 Pro.
If AAA Gaming Industry is already problematic, it became even worse. If you wanted to make a AAA multi-platform game, you had to create it, and optimize, for FOUR different hardware systems (PC, XBSeX, XBSeS, PS5), soon it will be SIX hardware systems. So if the developers already struggled to even release a Day One game in a playable state, now they will also have to deal with optimizations for PRO consoles.
Yeah, PS5 Pro has way more computing power, but you still have to develop and release games on Base PS5. It is not going anywhere.

Also, it would be so much better if SONY focused their PS5 Pro budget on more First Party games. Because to create a completely new console is very expensive and hard. I hope it will, at least, not have problems with overheating or fan noise or durability.

Also, PS5 Pro is a disrespect for Disk lovers (I am the one myself). Initial PS5 Pro model will not include PS5 Pro Disk Drive. So if you want PS5 Pro with Disk Drive, it will be 800 USD total. And you will have to wait for it.
Whats worse is that the first PS5 Pro will NOT include Vertical Stand in its box. It will be sold separately.
SONY is such a shame. Moving to California was a major mistake. They wanted more money and thus they lost their soul.

@Bivshtex007 I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Nintendo will be the last of the big three standing after this generation. I love Nintendo and Sony, but after the nightmare Wii U sales I never would have thought 7 years ago that Nintendo would defeat Sony and Microsoft in the video game industry, yet with this I think it's a definite possibility! 🙀

That said, it is not a good thing as competition is always good for any industry...

I must say that this seems a bizarre move by Sony? When developers have yet to even truly take advantage of the 'base' PS5, it seems crazy to be pushing this optimised unit at the price point they are? Also... we can't be more than 2 years(?) away from the next gen at this point.

I think Nintendo landed this a lot better with Switch OLED - a noticely improved screen, also somewhat larger + other QoL features like more storage, better battery life, improved kickstand etc. And the pricepoint was reasonable... as well as this upgraded unit being launched halfway through the Switch lifecycle

Don't get me wrong, I think the PS5 (base) is an amazing console with a tremendous library of games. But I just can't understand who this upgrade is 'for' - aside from die-hard games with a real affinity for fidelity?

@WiiWareWave Bro I dearly hope that Sony will pull their head out of dirt, fire their DEI department and start pushing game development again.
I also hope they will learn theit mistakes (Horizon Forbidden West, Concord).
Also Sony kinda dug themselves a pit. Because they always were pushing super graphics, but it just consumes copious amounts of budget.
Also, I am pretty sure Playstation will keep going because right now it is amazing console for multi-platform games. I mean, 30% cut from FIFA and CoD and Fortnite brings them nice cash

@CJD87 YEP. Thats exactly what I mean. There are, like, only several games that truly show what PS5 is capable of. And majority on Multiplat devs dont use full potential. Because all of them struggle with just making game work and run Day One. Like as an example, Space Marine 2.
Sony should have made a deal with Microsoft, as to agree to not develop and not release mid-gen upgrade. To not put more strain on devs and save console development money for games.
I also cannot comprehend how hard it will be for Microsoft Studios devs. I mean, if they will not make a PS5 release, so it is PC and 3 Xboxes. And one of them is a half-baked brick that drags industry with its weak performance (Series S)

A console that doesn't even need to exist for a price only a fraction of their fanbase can afford, all without a disc drive. I still would say $700 would be absurd with a disc drive, but without one it's laughable in an extremely bad way.

As I said in the comments section of one of the articles, I was going to watch the video just to see what it was like and maybe buy one someday down the road if my near launch PS5 ever dies. Now I know that's never going to happen as I'd have to pay $700+ whatever the disc drive costs.

They really should have saved this for the PS6. They did horrible with the PS4 Pro, literally just dropping it into stores without any marketing. At least there was a point to it though. This, no matter how much they promote it, will likely be a giant dud.

@Bivshtex007 You make a really good point there… so many devs are already struggling to launch ‘smooth’ Day1 releases on current/existing hardware, I just can’t see a widespread adoption of time/resource/money for these teams to take full advantage of the Pro.

Not to mention you’ll still have cross-console issues with multi platform titles - where potentially devs will need to make their games perform adequately on Series S but also optimised to take advantage of PS5 Pro?! I just can’t see it happening! (Just look at Baldurs delay due to Series S limitations)

I’m not going out of my way to slate Sony here, as all the Big 3 have moments of madness, but I think they’ve really misjudged the market appetite for the Pro + underestimated dev aptitude for utilisation of the hardware.

I honestly think the base PS5 is brilliant as is… and fundamentally- all that is players want/need right now is ‘great games’!

I’m delighted that Sony pooled resources into making something like Astro-Bot… a bold and strong move, considering every other released right now seems to be Soulslike(!)

But then we have the Concord disaster and also the Pro launch… are these both examples of the Jim Ryan hangover??

2024 has been a strange year for all of the big 3, as I suppose we start to see this generation winding down a bit? I’d personally like to see Sony lean into reigniting some of their old IPs and/or perhaps working to negotiate some cross-platform ports (Starfield a matter of time?)

I’m genuinely hoping that the success of Astro-Bot will help them focus more on a clear vision for the coming years. Irrespective of industry/market analysis, I still believe that a great game is all that players really want… give us another Baldurs, Elden Ring, BOTW, Hades etc

Imagine if somebody bought PS5 Pro with that expensive price just only for playing small GB size kids games like Barbie or Paw Patrol for 4K and 120 fps output. 🤣

@WiiWareWave i beg to differ. the moment nintendo releases their games on PC then theyre as good as the dreamcast. at least playstation & xbox can afford to disperse their games elsewhere.

I still find it strange there is so much focus on the price, when the price isn't an issue so much as it appears it doesn't do anything. If Sony had made it clearer what this thing is meant to actually be doing I don't know if anyone would really care about the price (assuming what it was doing was something actually significant over the existing console).

@CJD87 My prediction is that most PS5 Pro versions of games will basically have, only just higher resolution and framerate. Thats it. It is easy to do.
But to, really, push PS5 and Pro to its limit... Literally only Sony First Party studios will do it

This begs the question how much ps6 will cost
But also…

@Bivshtex007 You're more than likely right. If developers were too lazy to properly optimize their games to actually take more advantage of the PS5, they aren't all of a sudden going to put more effort in and actually really dig deep into the PS5 Pro. Most noticeable differences between 3rd party games on the PS5 and the PS5 Pro will be simply because the GPU and such is more powerful, not from better optimization.

A mistake?

Eh. It'll sell well enough, I'm sure, as a high-margin, low-volume enthusiast product. It's not like a few hundred extra dollars for the hardware + the disc drive is going to matter much to techies with decent paychecks.

But yeah, better start saving your pennies for the PS6 now, lol. Sony isn't going to be eager to loss lead too hard next gen, even if it'll probably be necessary.

@Ralizah
I just wonder what kind technology to bring for PS6 when PS5 itself already strong enough to have faster loading time by SSD, 60 fps boost update for certain games?
I really hope PS6 still have disc version by default and more kids games by 3rd party developers like Outright Games / Microids / Team17, etc.

@Anti-Matter For AAA games, the usual stuff, I imagine: better raytracing; better upscaling tech; etc. In addition to raw power improvements. All dressed up in fancy marketing language to make it seem new and exciting, of course.

For the sort of games you play, the developers are doing something wrong if they're not running 4K 120fps already, lol.

Well, business wise, I do not think it is a mistake. Also, for people is not too. Here are my points:

• All that time I was fed up reading people how low spec the PS5 is and it needs more hardware power. Now, suddenly it is not utilized enough... (I agree that it is not since devs are lazy, but why was the other constant complain about)
• Disk - well, it is not nice but we are pushed there. You will see that the Xbox will be like that too. It is not Sony, it is the whole business area. So lets dont throw all on them.
• Stand - yeah, pure insanity not to have a stand
• Price - OK, yes, I also wish that it was cheaper. I want everything to be cheaper. But guys, there are 2 points that I have no idea why were not pointed in the presentation and bragged about:
• SSD is 2 TB. OK, I would preffer 1 TB and disk, but still.
  2. MOST IMPORTANT - PSSR is not working on thin air. In order to work we are getting RDNA4 in the PS5 Pro. Hardware that is not released to any others yet from AMD. Even the latest APUs which are awesome are with RDNA3. So, we get unreleased next get hardware and we want it on same price as RDNA2?

So, my oppinion is, yes, it is pricey, but it delivers. We will get down the line a price drop for sure. But production costs, electricity, shipping, etc is increased in the last 3 -4 years. How Sony would be not affected?