All anyone's really talking about when it comes to PS5 Pro is the mid-gen console's price point, and it's easy to understand why. Even for gaming enthusiasts, an MSRP of $699.99/£699.99 is a hard pill to swallow, regardless of how much more powerful the machine purportedly is than the regular PS5. While there will be various reasons why the price is what it is, one analyst has suggested a lack of competition is very likely one of them.
Piers Harding-Rolls, a games industry analyst for Ampere, says the pricing strategy for PS5 Pro aligns with Sony's desire to "protect its margin", simply meaning it doesn't want to sell the console at a loss. He also cites "supply chain inflation" and "a lack of direct competitor to its mid-cycle upgrade compared to last generation" as further reasons for the $700 cost.
Harding-Rolls is of course referring to the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X — competing mid-gen consoles boasting enhanced capabilities over the standard versions. At the time, the PS4 Slim retailed for $299 while the PS4 Pro was $399, "a 33% differential". Compare that to PS5 and PS5 Pro, where there's a larger "40-50% differential" — and no direct competition from Xbox.
"The lack of competition means it is an easier decision for Sony to run with a higher price point to protect its existing margins," Harding-Rolls says. "For most prospective PS5 consumers, the standard edition will represent the value sweet spot."