PS5 Pro Reviews: The Top Three Criticisms of the New Console

The PlayStation 5 has finally arrived, and the tech community is buzzing with reviews.

Sony’s latest iteration of the PlayStation 5 is receiving a fair amount of praise from tech reviewers who have been exploring its new features. Early impressions from notable outlets like The Verge, IGN, and Tom’s Hardware suggest that the PS5 Pro represents a significant upgrade in the realm of console gaming. Among its features, the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) is really grabbing attention—it’s Sony’s fresh AI-powered tool for upscaling game graphics.

The PS5 Pro is more than just a powerhouse; it’s a smartly redesigned piece of tech. It’s noticeably smaller, lighter, and quieter than its predecessor, directly tackling some of the common complaints that the original PS5 faced.

In an evaluation from The Verge, Senior Editor Sean Hollister captured the upgrades nicely: “In every game I tried—while positioned no more than eight feet from a 65-inch TV—the PS5 Pro clearly offered a superior gaming experience.”

However, despite this improvement in graphical fidelity, recommending the PS5 Pro isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Here’s where things get tricky:

### 1. The Price Tag is Too High

Unsurprisingly, the cost is a major sticking point. Priced at $700, the PS5 Pro is a tough sell for casual gamers who are likely satisfied with the performance of the base PS5. Many players may find that the leap in visual quality doesn’t justify the additional expense, especially when the base PS5 already offers an excellent experience at a much more affordable price.

Rory Mellon from Tom’s Hardware highlights this: “It’s an extravagant purchase that doesn’t offer the same value for money found in the base PS5, which is still an exceptionally capable console.” This sentiment is echoed widely. While the PS5 Pro provides enhancements, it doesn’t transform the gaming experience enough to justify its premium price, especially for those outside the hardcore gaming circle.

### 2. Missing a Disc Drive

Adding to the high cost barrier is the absence of a disc drive in the PS5 Pro. Michael Higam from IGN notes, “Considering its price, you might expect the PS5 Pro to include every possible feature, but it doesn’t.”

For fans of physical media, Sony offers some relief—you can attach an external disc drive to the PS5 Pro. However, this will set you back an additional $80. Even the vertical stand requires a separate purchase. This approach from Sony seems a bit perplexing, especially when considering that a significant overlap likely exists between hardcore fans ready to spend $700 on the Pro and those who prefer physical game copies.

Charging extra for these essentials feels somewhat disconnected from the loyal fanbase Sony hopes to cater to.

### 3. Limited Game Selection

Not to belabor the familiar “but PS5 has no games” complaint, one of the more subtle criticisms of the Pro is its lack of compelling new games to justify the upgrade.

While Sony’s top first- and third-party games have received updates to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s boosted capabilities, these are just updates—nothing groundbreaking in terms of new gaming experiences.

Cameron Faulkner from Polygon notes that the graphical enhancements seen across the 50 Sony games that have been updated are a “mixed bag.”

The general consensus among reviewers is that, as we move into the latter years of the PS5’s lifecycle, games released in 2025 and beyond might truly harness the Pro’s enhanced graphical and performance capabilities. If developers can achieve this, the Pro could potentially justify its steep price.