The PlayStation 5 Pro is Here: Is the Price Tag and Separate Disc Drive Worth It?

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[TL;DR]
The PlayStation 5 Pro was announced with a $699.99 price tag, a steep jump from the base PS5’s $499.99. It offers impressive upgrades like better ray tracing and AI-driven upscaling, but 8K gaming is still not mainstream, making the price hard to justify for most gamers. On top of that, Sony is selling the disc drive separately for $79.99, which feels like a step backward, especially for those who prefer physical games. Overall, the PS5 Pro may be best for enthusiasts, while the base PS5 remains a better value for most players.

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, folks – the PlayStation 5 Pro has officially been announced, and while there’s plenty to be excited about, it’s time to take a critical look at the price point and the decision to offer the disc drive as a separate purchase.

As the team over at New Game+ Plus Ultra, we’re buzzing about the new hardware, but let’s break down what you’re really getting for $699.99 USD.

Price Point Concerns
The PS5 Pro’s price tag of $699.99 is a significant jump from the standard PS5’s $499.99, and that’s where things start to get tricky. Sure, the upgraded GPU and advanced ray tracing promise more immersive visuals, and the AI-driven upscaling will make every game look sharper. But here’s the thing: 8K gaming, one of the Pro’s flagship selling points, is still a long way from being mainstream. Most gamers don’t have 8K TVs, and very few games are optimized for 8K.

Realistically, unless you’re one of the few with a high-end 8K setup at home, you’re probably still playing in 4K or even 1080p, where the base PS5 already delivers incredible performance. So, for the average gamer, is it worth an additional $200 just to be future-proof? Many may find that the standard PS5 is more than enough for their needs at this stage .

The Separate Disc Drive – A Step Backward?
Then there’s the issue of the Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive. Sony’s decision to sell the disc drive separately feels like a double-edged sword. On the one hand, offering a disc-less console as standard is a nod to the growing trend toward digital gaming, but on the other hand, it’s a $79.99 add-on for those who prefer physical games .

This move essentially splits the player base: digital-only users and those who still rely on physical media. For a console that’s priced at a premium, asking players to fork over even more cash for basic functionality that was previously included feels like a misstep. If you’re someone with a collection of physical games or enjoy watching 4K Blu-rays, this extra cost might be hard to justify.

What Are We Really Paying For?
The PS5 Pro’s 2TB SSD and enhanced backward compatibility for 8,500+ PS4 games are strong selling points, but when we compare the overall value, the cost starts to add up quickly. Between the $700 console and the $80 disc drive, you’re looking at close to $800 just to have the full experience, not counting other accessories. And that’s before we even talk about the need for an 8K TV if you really want to take advantage of all those high-end features .

Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that the PlayStation 5 Pro is an impressive piece of hardware, but at $699.99, it’s hard not to feel like this version of the console is aimed more at a niche audience of enthusiasts rather than the broader gaming community. And with the disc drive being sold separately, it feels like a step back in terms of offering a fully integrated gaming experience right out of the box.

If you’re someone who already owns a PS5, upgrading to the Pro might not offer enough to justify the cost. For new buyers, the price jump, combined with the separate disc drive, might make the base PS5 a more attractive option until the full potential of 8K gaming becomes more accessible.