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The PS5 Pro was revealed for the first time this week. Despite all the bells and whistles of enhanced ray tracing, PSSR, and a few extra stripes, Ampere analyst Piers Harding-Rolls has said that the lack of exclusives will “hamper overall demand for the console.”
“This is because hardware sales are driven largely by the availability of compelling content,” he said. This is evidenced by PlayStation’s land grab in console games this year, proven by a disappointing performance in Xbox’s games department. However, since this year’s Xbox Showcase, it looks like it will have a more threatening presence now.
Despite the existence of PS5 Pro Enhanced games, there’s nothing out there that you can’t play on the PS5 itself. Realistically, it’s a bit of a tough one. Ampere is suggesting the lack of exclusives will harm the PS5 Pro’s sales, though I would argue that the converse – specific PS5 Pro Exclusive games – would harm the brand even more. The price has already fractured trust, and were PlayStation to go ahead and announce that they were releasing games specifically for the $700 console, critics and fans alike would have been equally outraged.
For console gamers, exclusives can be one of the most disruptive business practices out there. PC gamers tend not to have to worry about it, unless it’s a Nintendo title, as it will likely see a port if there’s demand for it. Unless it’s Bloodborne.
On the other hand, exclusives are one of the best benefits to being a console gamer. You get access to titles like Bloodborne, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth; on Xbox, it’s all shared with PC really; Nintendo, Zelda, Splatoon, the Mario franchise, Metroid, Pokémon and so much more. There’s an element of allegiance too. Without the exclusives, the PS5 Pro is a daunting figure, especially since the vastly increased price reflect the performance gains it claims to have.
The PS5 Pro price has been central to discourse around the console. At $699, it’s going to cost you nearly as much as a low cost gaming PC that’s going to perform better – few people have a reason to justify it, especially with no valuable bonuses. Similarly, the regional pricing unfairly inflates the British MSRP to the exact figure as the U.S.’s, virtually negating the difference in pound and dollar.
The games industry analyst also said that the “lack of competition means it is an easier decision for Sony to run with a higher retail price point to protect its existing margins,” suggesting that Xbox’s commitment to streaming tightened PlayStation’s emerging grip.
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