Sony just pulled back the curtain on the PlayStation 5 Pro, and the internet is already melting down.
The upgraded console carries a staggering $699.99 price tag, and it doesn't even include a disc drive or a vertical stand.
That's right, folks—you're paying premium money for the bare minimum, and gamers everywhere are asking the same question: is Sony out of its mind?
The big selling point here is something Sony calls "advanced ray tracing" and a new AI-powered upscaling tech dubbed PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution.
Your games will look sharper and run smoother, with developers claiming they can hit higher frame rates without sacrificing visual fidelity.
Sony says roughly 50 games will get free patches to take advantage of the hardware at launch, including heavy hitters like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and The Last of Us Part II Remastered.
But here's the kicker: the PS5 Pro has NO disc drive.
If you want to play physical games, you'll need to fork over an extra $79.99 for the detachable drive.
That's another $29.99 for a vertical stand.
Suddenly that $700 sticker price is creeping toward $800 before you've even bought a single game.
Consumers are comparing this to the infamous "$599 US dollars" PlayStation 3 disaster from 2006, and honestly, the comparison isn't unfair.
We're deep into this console generation, with rumors swirling about next-gen hardware arriving in 2027 or 2028.
Dropping a $700 mid-generation upgrade right now feels like asking players to pay a luxury tax for marginal gains.
The base PS5 already runs most games beautifully, and unless you're a hardcore graphics snob with a high-end 4K TV, the upgrade might be tough to justify.
Preorders go live September 26, and the console officially launches November 7.
Scalpers are almost certainly sharpening their bots, which means actual gamers could face empty shelves and inflated resale prices within minutes.
If you genuinely want one, set an alarm and have your payment info ready—because Sony isn't making this easy or affordable.
If you skipped the original PS5 and own a killer 4K display, maybe.
If you already have a PS5 collecting dust under your TV, the smarter move is to wait for a price drop or a bundle.
Final Thoughts
Sony is betting big that loyal fans will open their wallets wide, but this launch feels less like a leap forward and more like a cash grab dressed in shiny new specs.