‘It’s Actually Not That Bad’: Respawn’s Vince Zampella on the PS5 Pro Price

As a long-time gaming enthusiast and industry insider, I find myself often amazed by the pricing decisions made by console manufacturers. However, I have to admit that Vince Zampella, with his extensive experience in game development and understanding of technology, has a point when it comes to the PS5 Pro’s price tag.

As a gamer myself, I’ve been buzzing lately since Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 Pro, but the hefty price tag they’ve slapped on it left me (and many others in the gaming community) speechless. I mean, $700 is quite the chunk of change for what some see as a mid-gen upgrade. Even Respawn’s co-founder and studio head, Vince Zampella, chimed in about the PS5 Pro’s pricing strategy, expressing similar sentiments.

Recently, Zampela has been making headlines due to his team’s work on the upcoming Battlefield game. Yesterday, Electronic Arts unveiled ‘Battlefield 6’, releasing some information and a preliminary concept art for the game.

‘Not Everybody Will Be Able to Afford It’

The team led by Zampella at Respawn is actively involved in creating Battlefield 6, one of the most eagerly awaited games in the series so far. This game is going back to a modern battlefield setting, sparking fervor among fans. Previously, the CEO of EA has described Battlefield 6 as a ‘significant reinvention’ or ‘radical overhaul’ of the franchise.

In a concise chat, Zampella discussed leveraging the mighty capabilities of the PS5 Pro to take the upcoming Battlefield title to its maximum potential.

From my perspective, although we haven’t fully exploited its potential just yet, it doesn’t immediately benefit us in this moment. However, there’s no denying its potential for awesome applications down the line. Let’s wait and see how it unfolds. As the adoption rate grows, we’ll get a better idea of its impact on our games and gaming experience. To create a game that works across all platforms is our goal.

Zampella, who was speaking to IGN at the time, defended the PS5 Pro price somewhat:

Initially, when you compare today’s prices with those of older gaming consoles, it might seem shocking because they were just as pricey back then. However, considering inflation, they may have actually been even more expensive. Yet, upon reflection, it’s not as bad as it seems at first glance. For instance, if you spend $700 on a PC, the performance you get isn’t equivalent to what you’d get from the same price range in the past.
There’s a trade-off here. Undeniably, it can be costly for many individuals, not everyone may be able to afford it. Lowering the price would definitely be beneficial, but my aim is to make this accessible to as many people as possible. In truth, it does make sense in its current form.

It’s been proposed that the PS5 Pro is primarily being targeted towards dedicated PlayStation fans who absolutely crave the newest and most advanced gaming tech. Based on our observations, the enhancements appear substantial, but is the value justified by its $700 price point?

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam.