UPDATE: Oct. 11, 2024, 10:05 a.m. EDT This article has been refreshed to reflect the latest availability.
The PlayStation 5 Pro is back in the spotlight and available once more—hopefully, you’ve started setting aside your funds for it. With a tag of $699.99, Sony’s anticipated mid-generation console is now open for preorders. As of 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 10, you can snag one at major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart.
This is the second round of preorders for the PS5 Pro. The first batch debuted a couple of weeks back on the PlayStation Direct site and sold out rather quickly. It’s back there now, but be mindful that a PlayStation Network account is necessary to make a purchase. Most retailers are restricting buyers to one console each, with Target permitting two consoles per order. Expect the PS5 Pro to start its journey to your doorstep in roughly four weeks, beginning on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Earlier, Sony unveiled two special edition bundles celebrating the PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, both launched alongside the PS5 Pro, though they’ve since vanished into the ether.
One of these was the $999.99 PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, which sported the iconic ’90s gray design reminiscent of the original PlayStation. This bundle included matching DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers, a charging station for the DualSense, a disk drive cover (sold separately), a vertical stand, and several collectible items. With only 12,300 individually numbered units available, it disappeared “in seconds” during its initial release on PS Direct on Sept. 26, according to IGN. Consequently, these bundles are now surfacing on eBay with staggering price tags.
The other was the $499.99 PS5 Slim Digital Edition 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle, which left out the DualSense Edge and charging station. It hit retailers on Oct. 10 following a first preorder phase late in September, achieving swift sellouts on both occasions. This too is now appearing on eBay, again with significant markup.
The PS5 Pro was formally introduced on Sept. 10 in a brief nine-minute “Technical Presentation” hosted by Mark Cerny, PS5’s Lead Architect, on PlayStation’s YouTube channel. This unveiling came on the heels of months of mystery and leaks, including an insider one.
Equipped with a more substantial GPU than its predecessor, enhanced ray tracing, and unique hardware for AI-enhanced upscaling, Cerny claims the PS5 Pro is the “most powerful console we’ve ever constructed.” It touts WiFi 7 acceptance, 8K gaming capabilities, and a souped-up “Pro” version of the Game Boost feature found on the PS5, designed to boost performance for over 8,500 backward-compatible PS4 games. It incredibly packs 2TB of storage—twice the original PS5’s capacity, which isn’t even four years old yet.
A noteworthy point about the PS5 Pro is its lack of a disc drive—you’ll need to buy that separately at $79.99. (It has become a hotly sought-after accessory since the console was announced, selling out often across big-name retailers as per IGN.) A compatible vertical stand is also available, priced at $29.99.
For those contemplating next-gen upgrades but troubled by the PS5 Pro’s steep costs, considering a certified refurbished system might be appealing. These refurbished PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition consoles have recently appeared on PS Direct priced at $399.99 and $349.99 respectively, which is a $100 cut from their brand-new counterparts.
The PS5 Pro represents the fifth version of Sony’s current flagship console lineup, not factoring in any special bundles. Its release contrasts with the original PS5’s rocky start, plagued by supply dilemmas during the pandemic. It stands alongside the standard PS5, the PS5 Digital Edition, the PS5 Slim, and the PS5 Slim Digital Edition in Sony’s gaming arsenal.
Topics: Gaming, PlayStation
