Will Sony’s New PS5 Pro Convert Gamers to PC?

All of the PS5 Pro rumors have come true, and Sony’s newest console was officially unveiled on September 10, 2024, in a nine-minute technical presentation by PlayStation’s Mark Cerny.

The PS5 Pro console will boast a beefier GPU, in addition to new technologies like PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). These technologies ensure that console gamers will be able to play games at 4K with little-to-no compromises at high framerates and high resolutions.

Thanks to the new silicon, the console will also have more advanced Ray Tracing powers, which can bring high-end AAA games to life with more PS5 Pro-enhanced games, such as Horizon: Forbidden West, which can offer revamped lighting and facial textures.

The PS5 Pro news will be welcome to dedicated console gamers, but as the technological differences between gaming PCs and consoles begin to narrow, it could convert prospective PlayStation fans to PC users.

Here’s why.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Sticker Shock
3. A Wider Library
4. Easy Upgradability
5. The Bottom Line
6. FAQs
7. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Sticker Shock
3. A Wider Library
Show Full Guide
4. Easy Upgradability
5. The Bottom Line
6. FAQs
7. References

Sticker Shock

The PlayStation 5 Pro’s price shocked the gaming world upon announcement, as Sony revealed that it would cost $699, which is $100 over the ridiculed launch price of the launch PS3 in 2006.

In reality, adjusted for inflation, it’s not quite the same story, however. With that said the high price of the console might make gamers consider building a PC or picking up a new gaming laptop. The PS5 Pro’s internal components are impressive, even when considering its price. Building a PC will still be more expensive, but it can also offer cutting-edge features not present on the PlayStation 5 Pro.

But with companies like Nvidia offering features like Frame Generation in RTX 40-series GPUs, Sony still feels as though it is a step behind the curve. This is especially true when you consider that AMD (who created the PS5 Pro’s CPU and GPU) has its own frame-generation solution in FSR 3’s Fluid Motion Frames, which was notably absent from the PS5 Pro’s technical presentation.

Considering the investment involved, performance-focused users might want to look into getting a PC, which offers many more features and, depending on their budget, could boost performance way beyond what the PS5 Pro offers at $699. That’s not even mentioning the splintered libraries of the PlayStation ecosystem.

A Wider Library

If you’ve been a loyal card-carrying member of the PlayStation ecosystem and have invested in its console libraries over the years, you won’t be able to play all of the games you have paid for on the PS5 Pro. This is because there is a distinct lack of backward compatibility on the PlayStation 5 Pro.

Save for access to a handful of titles on the PlayStation Plus subscription service (which streams PS3 titles from the cloud), if you’ve paid for digital titles like God Hand on PS2, which is playable on the PS3 via emulation, you won’t be able to run it on the PS5 Pro, or even view your purchase.

This leaves you with no way to play older titles you have paid for in your digital library on PS5 Pro, despite being the most powerful console Sony has ever made.

This is another string in the open-ended ecosystem of a PC’s bow. You can access emulation for just about every console under the sun, including Sony’s previous consoles (Hell, modders have just managed to get Bloodborne running on PC with dozens of mods), just by dumping your officially purchased games, you can get these running on PC, with enough effort.

Sony is also making efforts to port their PS5 titles over to PC, with games like Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon: Forbidden West, and more all making their way to the platform officially, meaning you likely won’t be waiting long to see PlayStation icons show up on Steam or PC.

So, the PS5 Pro not only doesn’t give you access to your purchases made in previous generations, but it pales in comparison to the number of titles you can play on PC. Thanks to storefronts like Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and GOG, you can play just about any game, from any generation using a PC, if you’re willing to invest in one.

Easy Upgradability

The benefit of getting a PC over a PS5 Pro also extends to the future. Whenever Sony reveals a PlayStation 6, you won’t be able to magically strap a module to the PS5 Pro so it can run PlayStation 6 titles.

Gaming PCs have a level of versatility unmatched by consoles. Source: Sayem Ahmed via Techopedia

But, if you’re on a PC, the easy upgradability means that even if you build a modest system now, you could upgrade it in the future with a new GPU or CPU, accessing new levels of power without having to throw out your build entirely. It’s better for the environment and means you’ll get more out of your investment in a PC than a PS5 Pro.

With these elements in mind, the PS5 Pro looks like a worse proposition than just getting a PC: If you’re sat on the fence, be sure to consider all these elements before putting down your cash for Sony’s newest system.

The Bottom Line

While the improvements brought about by the PS5 Pro are undoubtedly impressive, its high price tag almost completely defeats the purpose of having a games console in the first place. Considering how powerful mainstream and mid-range computing hardware is nowadays, you may be better suited to building or buying a similarly priced PC to ensure benefits that Sony’s upcoming console will lack.

FAQs