A few weeks ago Sony announced their next instalment in the Playstation 5 (PS5) lineup - The Playstation 5 Pro… So what, have they put cameras on it? Does it play my games for me? Can I take it outside?? What makes this one a ‘Pro’?
Simply put, it’s the same PS5, but ‘stronger’. We know it’s stronger because it can do things (very demanding computational things that the industry makes us believe are important) better than the not ‘Pro’ one.
Well, that’s great! I’ll have one Playstation 5 Pro please! How much do I owe you?
SEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS (or dollars)
Ouch. My personal cut off was £500. If the new features were good, I might’ve even stretched to £600. But £700? I think cars cost that much. And what’s worse is the PS5 Pro doesn’t even come with a disc drive. You know, the thing you put the disc in. You buy those drives separately to add on later for an extra £99.99.
Originally this was something that gave consumers more choice to buy the cheaper, discless PS5 (only able to play downloaded games) with the option to upgrade later if they wanted to. But now it’s just something the Pro doesn’t have… And brings the total of a complete PS5 Pro experience to £800! Oh, and the stand is sold separately at 25 quid…
Yes. I’m upset. As I move my eyes from the pre-order page, to my bank account - I realise I’m not a Pro. I’m a working adult who loves gaming, specifically Playstation, and I feel priced out. And it isn’t just me. As you read this, there are arguments online about how PCs for the same price are better, how people shouldn’t worry about the way others spend their money, or how this is an enthusiast console at an enthusiast cost so deal with it…
And that last point is interesting. An enthusiast console. It’s for a demographic that has the means, knowledge and desire to truly be a Pro. But who is this demographic? How do they impact the future of accessible consoles, and even play?
Considering the cost, I believe this demographic is mainly Gen Z adults. Children who grew up with Playstation 1s, Nintendo 64s and Sega Dreamcasts, can now spend their disposable income on things that have always made them happy. This is supported by Stastista’s 2024 findings on American gamers which show 52% are aged between 20-39 years old. Theesa in 2021 also found that the average age of an American gamer is 31.
I’m not surprised by this because play is as important to adults as it is for children, with studies showing improved mental wellbeing when responsibly engaging with video games, puzzles or board games. These points are better explored by the British Psychological Society here.
But so what’s the issue? [Some] Adults with money can buy the cool Pro console because play is important for them too! Children don’t need the highest fidelity graphics and fastest frame rates - no one really does, I guess. The regular PS5 is just fine and games still look and play incredibly on there! It’s been out for 4 years now, so it’s probably gotten even cheaper with this new one coming out, right?
Wrong. That usually happens as technology becomes more efficient and production gets cheaper, but it’s just not happening. In fact, the opposite is! The standard PS5 in the UK is now more expensive (£479) than it was on release in 2020 (£449)! Usually a child (or adult) waits some time before the family can get it, or even find one second hand… But with high demand along with scalpers, it’s almost impossible to pay anything less than RRP.
I won’t bore you with additional subscriptions needed to actually get online once you’ve bought the thing, but I’m left wondering what this will mean for young people’s accessibility to consoles and play if prices keep rising and companies see the market is willing to pay.
Ultimately, being unable to access video games might not sound like a big deal for some people. But it is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, and is also a relatively safe way to socialise for young people that is currently getting more and more barriers.
Not to mention brands continue to push for meaningful engagement for children / teens online on free-to-play games like Fortnite and Roblox, which are super accessible… when young people actually have the device to download them.
There are already multiple ways to access these platforms, including mobile phones. But the best, most immersive experiences are often reserved for consoles and PCs (a different kettle of fish altogether) so it would be a shame for young people to be blocked out of this.
If we can make a PS5 with a detachable disc drive, then I don’t see why we can’t make a cheaper, entry level ‘base’ Playstation that can be upgraded with other various technologies that make it ‘stronger’. Or just get a PS4, I guess?
I’m interested to see how the market reacts to this and how companies and game developers will consider the future of accessible play for as many as possible - especially young people.
What is your personal cut off price for a console / PC? Who do you think the PS5 Pro is for? And do you think console manufacturers should have accessibility at the forefront of design?
