Sony just dropped the PlayStation 5 Pro, and the internet is absolutely LOSING ITS MIND — but not in the way the company hoped.
The new console carries a jaw-dropping $699 price tag, and that's BEFORE you factor in the separate $79 vertical stand and the fact that a disc drive will cost you another $79 on top.
The "Pro" experience could set you back nearly $860 if you want to actually use physical games.
Let's break down what you're actually getting for that pile of cash.
The PS5 Pro packs a beefed-up GPU with roughly 67% more compute units, advanced ray tracing, and Sony's new AI-driven "PSSR" upscaling tech — basically their answer to Nvidia's DLSS.
Games like "Marvel's Spider-Man 2" and "The Last of Us Part II" get special "Pro Enhanced" patches with sharper visuals and smoother frame rates.
Here's the SHOCKING part: there's no disc drive in the box.
Sony is quietly nudging everyone toward an all-digital future, and loyal fans who've spent years building physical game collections are feeling straight-up BETRAYED.
The company says the standalone drive works, but charging extra for hardware that used to be standard feels like a slap in the face to longtime PlayStation loyalists.
Gamers took to social media within minutes of the reveal, and the reaction was BRUTAL.
One viral post compared the price to a decent gaming PC.
Another pointed out that you could buy a standard PS5, a Nintendo Switch, and still have cash left over.
Even die-hard Sony fans admitted the value proposition was tough to swallow when the regular PS5 already runs most games beautifully.
If you've got a high-end 4K TV with a 120Hz refresh rate, crave the absolute best console performance, and money isn't a concern, the PS5 Pro delivers genuinely noticeable upgrades.
The standard PS5 — often discounted to $400 or less — remains the smarter buy.
Most games still look fantastic on it, and that $300 gap buys a LOT of actual games.
The bigger story here might be what this signals about the future.
Sony is testing whether gamers will pay premium prices for incremental upgrades, much like smartphone makers do every year.
If the PS5 Pro sells well, expect this to become the new normal.
If it flops, Sony might rethink its strategy fast.
Either way, this launch is a fascinating moment for the entire console industry. **Our take:** Sony makes a powerful machine, but the pricing feels out of touch with what most American families can justify right now.
The PS5 Pro isn't a bad console — it's just a luxury item dressed up as a mainstream upgrade.
Final Thoughts
Unless you're a serious enthusiast, waiting for a price drop might be the smartest move you make all year.