PS5 Pro One Year Later: Is It Worth the Premium Price?

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A year has passed since the PlayStation 5 Pro launched, and the gaming world has changed a lot. Rising costs due to tariffs and inflation, the popularity of portable gaming PCs, and the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2 have all impacted the market. Despite these changes, the PlayStation 5 remains the only high-end console available. The big question now is: after a year, is the PS5 Pro a worthwhile upgrade?

Determining whether a console is ‘worth it’ is always complex, and that’s even more true today than it was a few years ago. Home consoles are now seen as a treat, and while they used to feel like a big, difficult purchase, they’re now considered a regular expense. Even so, $750 is a significant amount to spend on a console, particularly if it’s just an upgraded version of something you already have.

The PlayStation 5 Pro Price Has Gone Up Not Down Since Launch

Let’s address the price: it’s gone up from $699 when the PlayStation 5 Pro first came out to $750 now. While prices could eventually drop, the current economy suggests that’s unlikely to happen soon. For those who bought it early, getting the PS5 Pro feels like a smart purchase, similar to buying a Nintendo Switch 2 when it launched, as Nintendo also warned prices might go up depending on market conditions. If you snagged the PS5 Pro for $699, you got the best possible deal.

Seven hundred dollars is still a significant amount of money for a gaming console, and that cost will always be a major consideration. If you can comfortably afford it – if you’re a dedicated gamer who isn’t worried about the expense – then we can really start to talk about whether the PS5 Pro is worth it.

The PS5 Pro Offers Upgraded Visuals and Performance on Exclusives

When it comes to standout exclusive games on the PlayStation 5 Pro since its release, Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei are the main highlights. Both are sequels to popular PS5 games and represent a big improvement in graphics. Playing these games on the PS5 Pro is truly impressive – the enhanced visuals, smoother gameplay, and overall clarity made the upgrade worthwhile.

Death Stranding 2 immediately grabs your attention with a beautiful scene of Sam traveling through the mountains of Mexico, and it looks fantastic on consoles.

Like the beginning of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei is visually stunning. It takes all those small, beautiful details – like grass, flowers, and fire – and makes them even more impressive.

These games look and run beautifully on the PlayStation 5 Pro. They’re designed to maximize the console’s power, offering options to prioritize either a smoother frame rate or sharper resolution. If you have a 4K TV or monitor, especially one that supports 120Hz, you’ll be particularly impressed with how they look.

Some (Not All) Games Run Better on the PlayStation 5 Pro

Many games designed for the PlayStation 5 Pro, or exclusive to PlayStation, offer improved visuals and smoother performance compared to the standard PS5. They utilize Sony’s PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology, which uses artificial intelligence to upscale the image. While a very close look might reveal a difference between the upscaled and original image, most players won’t be able to tell. This technology ultimately enhances the overall look and feel of games on the PS5 Pro.

Not every game fully utilizes the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities, and even those that do sometimes experience issues. These problems largely stem from third-party development, as seen with games like Borderlands 4, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and recently, The Outer Worlds 2, which all launched with disappointing PS5 Pro enhancements. While Borderlands 4 needed optimization on all platforms, the base consoles and PC versions received updates and improvements that the PS5 Pro version didn’t.

It appears the success of the PlayStation 5 Pro hinges on how quickly people buy it. Current sales are slower than the PS4 Pro’s were at launch, and that impacts game developers. If fewer people own a PS5 Pro, there’s less reason for companies to spend time and money creating special, high-quality versions of their games for it. Sony will likely focus on supporting the PS5 Pro themselves, but third-party developers may not prioritize it as much.

Wolverine and GTA 6: Gaming on the PS5 Pro in 2026

Sony is planning a major release in 2026 with the Wolverine game, and there are likely more titles in development as well. If you’re looking forward to Insomniac Games’ gritty version of the X-Men character, the PlayStation 5 Pro will probably offer the best way to play it. Games like Resident Evil Requiem and Halo: Campaign Evolved, also slated for 2026, will likely benefit from the upgraded hardware, though PC versions will likely offer even better graphics and performance.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting Grand Theft Auto 6, which is likely to be one of the most popular video games ever made. Since Rockstar Games isn’t releasing a version for computers right away, the PS5 Pro might be the best way to play this highly anticipated open-world crime game.

I’m really hoping GTA 6 takes full advantage of the PS5 Pro if it comes out, but even without specific enhancements, the upgraded hardware usually makes games look and play better. I’m just a little worried after the mess that was the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Remasters – we definitely don’t want a repeat of that disappointment!

Should You Buy a PS5 Pro or Wait for PlayStation 6?

After a year, is the PlayStation 5 still a good buy? I think so – the exclusive games are great, it will probably offer the best graphics for the new Grand Theft Auto game when it comes out, and the price is only increasing. However, whether the PS5 Pro is right for you depends on how much you already use PlayStation, if you have a powerful gaming PC, and if you can comfortably afford it.

The PlayStation 5 Pro has a lot going for it, but it might be smart to wait for the PlayStation 6. Playing PlayStation games on a PC is a good option too. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual situation, and I’m glad I have one!

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2025-10-26 13:05