Heemskerk noted that Sony made a number of sensible hardware decisions, but the absence of a built-in disc drive in the PS5 Pro comes as a surprise. This move runs counter to the preferences of the core target audience—hardcore gamers who often opt for physical copies of games.
The expert suggests that this could be part of Sony’s long-term strategy, laying the groundwork for future consoles such as the PlayStation 6, which may be compatible with external drives but will not necessarily come bundled with one. In this way, the era of digital distribution is gathering momentum.
The high price of the PS5 Pro will be a key piece of the puzzle. Sony appears to be taking a cue from NVIDIA and Apple, which have launched expensive premium products without facing significant backlash. Heemskerk pointed out that consumers tend to forgive high prices if the next generation of hardware turns out to be slightly cheaper than the previous one.
This strategy could also boost the appeal of the entry-level PS5 model due to the noticeable price gap.
Time will tell whether gamers will accept the steep price tag in exchange for new technology, or if Sony will have to reconsider its approach to the next-generation console market.
Video: https://youtu.be/5v-U_Dk5oRA
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Cover image author: PlayStation. Cover image source: Wccftech