PlayStation 5 Pro game console is in development

Sony PlayStation 5 Pro on sale late 2023

First info about PlayStation 5 Pro surfaced in September 2019, when Japanese journalist Zenji Nishikawa announced that a Pro version would be released along with the regular PS5. Nishikawa supposedly got the heads-up at the Sony Computer Entertainment Developers Conference but there were no real evidence at the time whether a Pro version is in development and if so will Sony release both consoles at the same time.

In a recent interview with GameInformer, Masayasu Ito, Executive Vice President of Hardware Engineering and Operation at Sony Interactive Entertainment, confirmed the rumours about a Pro version of the PlayStation 5, but made it clear that this version is intended to close the gap in the lifecycle of current consoles and help catch-up with the rapid advancement of technology.

Masayasu Ito, Executive Vice President of Hardware Engineering and Operation at Sony Interactive Entertainment: In the past, the cycle for a new platform was 7 to 10 years, but in view of the very rapid development and evolution of technology, it’s really a six to seven year platform cycle. Then we cannot fully catch up with the rapid development of the technology, therefore our thinking is that as far as a platform is concerned for the PS5, it’s a cycle of maybe six to seven years. But doing that, a platform lifecycle, we should be able to change the hardware itself and try to incorporate advancements in technology. That was the thinking behind it, and the test case of that thinking was the PS4 Pro that launched in the midway of the PS4 launch cycle.

We can draw some interesting conclusions from the words of Masayasu San. First, the lifecycle of PlayStation 5 will be much shorter than the cycle of the PS4 – maybe around 6 years. Second, PlayStation 4 Pro was a test scenario for Sony – meant to show if introduction of a mid-cycle upgraded console can help close the gap and catch up with development in the PC market, for example.

PlayStation 4 Pro has been a huge success for Sony – when it was released at the end of 2016, the 4K capable console was priced exactly the same as its predecessor. By doing that Sony made the Pro version not only a worthy upgrade from the old PS4 but also a great choice for people who for some reason missed the PS4 train altogether. There is no reason for the Japanese company not to repeat this successful experiment. PS4 Pro came 3 years after the initial release of the PS4 and considering we’re talking about 6 to 7-year lifecycle for the PS5, it is safe to assume that the PS5 Pro will be announced in 2023.

There is no reason for Sony to release both consoles at the same time, making the regular PlayStation 5 obsolete right from the very beginning. Opting for two releases in 3 years time and keeping the same price tag will result in steady sales figures and revenue for Sony.

The new PSVR 2 headset

Sony already announced the VR capabilities of the PlayStation 5, which means new PSVR system is on the way. However, it might not launch along PS5. Considering the somewhat hefty 500-550 Euro pricetag for the next-get console, another 400 EUR for a VR system might turn out to be too much for the casual gamer. Postponing the release for a year, on the other hand, will let enough hype build-up and be easy on the pocket.

In October LetsGoDigital already reported on a new PSVR 2 headset with built-in cameras and a transparent mode and a wireless capabilities.

Note to editors: The above render is created by our Turkish friend Batuhan Ozer. His professional 3D render is based on the PS5 Dev Kit. Bu resmi kullanmamıza izin verdiğiniz için çok teşekkür ederiz!