Sony's PlayStation 5 is finally here and the reviews are in.
Sony’s refresh of the PlayStation 5 is garnering moderate applause across the tech world as reviewers dive into its features. Early impressions from The Verge, IGN, Tom’s Hardware, and others suggest the PS5 Pro has leveled up and is now the ultimate way to experience gaming on the console. All that said, the biggest standout so far has been PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) — Sony’s new AI-powered upscaling tool.
Not only is the PS5 Pro a performance beast, but it’s also a feat of thoughtful redesign. It’s smaller, lighter, and operates more quietly than its predecessor, addressing a few of the more common critiques of the original PS5.
In The Verge’s review, Senior Editor Sean Hollister summed it up well: “In every title I tried — while sitting no more than eight feet away from a 65-inch TV — the PS5 Pro was clearly the better place to play.”
However, just because the graphical fidelity is more visually appealing doesn't mean it's an easy recommendation. Here's the bad:
1. The PS5 Pro is too expensive
It’s no shocker that the price tag has become a sticking point across reviews. At $700, the PS5 Pro isn’t an easy sell for the more casual gamer who might be content with the base PS5’s already impressive performance. For most players, the jump in visual fidelity may not feel quite worth the extra cash, especially when the base model continues to deliver a stellar experience at a far more accessible price.
As Rory Mellon from Tom’s Hardware put it, "It’s an extravagant purchase that doesn’t offer the same value for money that can be found in the base PS5, which remains an extremely capable console." Many echo this sentiment. While the PS5 Pro brings enhancements, it doesn’t fundamentally change the gaming experience enough to warrant a premium for those outside the enthusiast bracket.
2. There's no disc drive
On top of the high barrier to entry, the PS5 Pro doesn't come with a disc drive. "Considering its price, you’ll be disappointed to find that the PS5 Pro does not come with every possible bell and whistle," said Michael Higam in his IGN review.
However, Sony has tossed in some marginally good news. If you’re in the physical media camp, you can add a disc drive to the PS5 Pro. But brace yourself — that’ll run you an extra $80. The vertical stand is another separate purchase, too. It’s a curious move by Sony, considering that if there were a Venn diagram of hardcore console fans ready to drop $700 on the Pro, and those who still prize physical copies of games, it’d likely be one big circle.
For a company banking on its most devoted players, charging extra for essentials feels like a tone-deaf strategy.
3. Lack of games
Not to add to the annoying "but PS5 has no games" discourse, one of the minor complaints of the Pro is that, well, there aren't any games to sell you on buying the console.
Sony’s flagship first- and third-party titles have received quality patches to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities, but they’re just that — patches.
As Polygon's reviewer Cameron Faulkner notes in his review, the graphical improvements between the 50 Sony games that got patches are a "mixed bag."
The consensus among reviewers is that, with the next few years of the PS5's life cycle, games in 2025 and beyond will be able to take full advantage of the graphical and performance enhancement of the console. If they're able to do that, maybe the Pro won't be such a hard sell for its price tag.
