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Buying a PlayStation 5 right now might not be the best investment, as older systems are currently costing more than they did at their initial release. Engadget reported that extreme memory shortages and Sony’s shifting strategy have created a difficult market for gamers looking to purchase a console.
Sony’s Discless Future and the End of Physical Media
Sony plans to stop putting games on discs starting in 2028, meaning the future PS6 will not support physical media. FlatpanelsHD reported that the UBP-X700/K will be the final 4K Blu-ray player manufactured by Sony, signaling a complete pivot away from disc-based entertainment.
This shift brings an end to the PlayStation’s long legacy as a media hub, a role that previously helped boost the popularity of past generations like the PS2 and PS3. Once physical media disappears entirely, players will lose the ability to lend games to friends or take advantage of retail sales, leaving physical releases like Grand Theft Auto VI as little more than a code inside a box.
Rising Prices Across the Entire PS5 Lineup
Unlike previous console generations that typically became cheaper over time, every version of the PS5 has seen significant price hikes due to severe RAM shortages and climbing memory and SSD costs. When the original disc-equipped PS5 and the Digital Edition launched in North America on November 12, 2020, they were priced at $499 and $399, respectively.
Currently, the disc-equipped system costs $649, while the discless version is priced at $599, representing increases of 30 percent and 50 percent compared to 2020. The disc model now includes 1TB of storage compared to the original 825GB, though the Digital Slim has returned to the lower capacity.
The upgraded PS5 Pro, which launched on November 7, 2024, for $699, now costs $899 amid a console shortage fueled by anticipation for a rumored GTA VI 60 fps performance mode that neither Rockstar nor Sony has confirmed. Meanwhile, third-party sellers on Amazon have attempted to charge as much as $1,449 for used units, though the optional Slim and Pro disc drive maintains its original $79 price.
Hardware Bottlenecks in the PS5 Pro
The PlayStation 5 Pro stands as the most powerful video game console ever created, yet its processor leaves it trailing behind high-end gaming PCs. Both the standard PS5 and the Pro utilize AMD Zen 2 eight-core/16-thread processors, with the Pro offering a minor clock speed upgrade of 3.85GHz compared to 3.5GHz on the base model.
This modest 10 percent improvement likely explains the absence of 90 fps modes in processor-heavy titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon’s Dogma 2. By contrast, the Pro delivers a much stronger graphical performance with 16.7 TFLOPS of compute power and 60 compute units, compared to the standard console’s 10.3 TFLOPS and 36 compute units.
While PSSR 2.0 upscaling technology enhances visual fidelity in games like Resident Evil Requiem and Saros on the Pro, Sony’s introduction of AI upscaling—known as Quick Spectral Super Resolution or QSSR—to the base PS5 narrows the performance gap between the two devices.
Design Criticisms and Aesthetic Appeal
The entire PlayStation 5 family faces frequent criticism for its bulky and unconventional appearance. Many owners reportedly keep their consoles hidden inside entertainment cabinets to keep them out of sight from family members who view the hardware as an eyesore.
Every version of the console appears particularly awkward when placed horizontally, resembling misshapen Blu-ray players. While the discless Digital Edition, PS5 Slim, and PS5 Pro maintain slightly more uniform shapes without a protruding disc tray, none of the models qualify as an attractive piece of technology.
Buyers must weigh these hardware limitations, soaring price tags, and the impending death of physical media before committing to a purchase in the current market.
