Is there an actual need for a mid-generation console upgrade for the PlayStation 5? More to the point, do the undoubted improvements offered by the end product represent good value bearing in mind the expensive £699/$699/€799 price-point? It’s a tough question to answer – and all Digital Foundry can really do is attempt to showcase what the improvements actually are and offer our opinions on them. Beyond that, it’s up to you. However, what’s clear is that beyond any shadow of a doubt, PlayStation 5 Pro is the most powerful, forward-looking games console on the market right now. If you want the best PlayStation experience, this is it.
First impressions are a little mixed, however. As you may have seen from our unboxing video, the premium price-point isn’t reflected in the very ordinary packaging – opening up the Xbox Series X is a much more fulfilling experience. Shipping this prestige console without a stand or – much more importantly – a Blu-ray drive, is another disappointment. While not essential, a stand was packaged with the launch PS5. More to the point, the system is aimed at core PlayStation players, users who are more likely than most to have some kind of physical library. Out of the box, those games are inaccessible unless you pay £99.99/$79.99/€119.99 for the optional optical drive.
Those prices are exorbitant – especially in the European market – but I’d argue that digital game pricing on the PlayStation Store is even more of a problem. My colleague, John Linneman, wanted to buy Lords of the Fallen to play it on PS5 Pro. A disc copy cost him €15, the PlayStation Store charges €80. The Blu-ray drive – over the long run – could save you serious money then, but right now, it seems impossible to actually buy one. This does not reflect well on Sony as we’re now seeing scalping on the device with up to a 2x premium being attached.