Sony Lead Executive Affirms Initiation of PS5 Pro Development Prior to the PS5's Introduction
Sony Lead Executive Affirms Initiation of PS5 Pro Development Prior to the PS5's Introduction
On November 7th, Sony is set to deliver the initial units of the PlayStation 5 Elite to consumers. It might have appeared that Sony conceived its $700 gigantic machine around the same time as the PS5 Mini, given their shared design features. However, PlayStation leaders revealed that they started working on the mid-cycle upgrade prior to the launch of the initial PS5 in 2020. This raises the question: why isn't the PS5 Elite equipped with a disc drive, and why can't I utilize my current covers on the subsequent console?
Sony Interactive co-CEO Hideaki Nishino disclosed to Variety in a recent interview that the PS5 Elite was already in development "even before" the original PS5 was launched. Nishino, who was in charge of products at Sony's gaming brand when the first PS5 models were introduced in 2020, should have a better understanding of the situation than anyone else. "It was another five-year project for us," he told the outlet.
Nishino explained that there was a debate about whether to release another Pro model or not. "But the main focus was that there are technologies that can advance within three years or five years," he said. "So the innovation and technology development is quicker in a modern world."
Recent news about the PS5 Elite may have left some fans a bit puzzled. This week, a Redditor claimed that the covers you can buy separately for the PS5 Mini models will not fit the upcoming Pro. Sony then confirmed with IGN that any first– or third-party plates are incompatible. While the bottom plate might fit, the top portion may not due to different connection points.
We reached out to Sony for clarification on the cover's compatibility, but have not yet received a response. Sony has assured customers that they will be able to purchase new PS5 Elite-specific plates "in the future." While it's only an aesthetic issue, Nishino told Variety that "most engaged gaming users" are interested in the Pro, alongside new users. That includes those who already own a PS5 and their preferred covers.
"We design everything with one step ahead in mind," Nishino said. "It's not like we just make a next step, and we don't know about the two steps ahead."
One of the most frustrating aspects of the PS5 Elite before anyone can experience the performance difference between the more powerful GPU and the last-gen PlayStation 5 is that the new PS5 will not include a disc drive option. Instead, customers will have to purchase one separately for $80. Sony confirmed that the drive is compatible with both PS5 and PS5 Elite, but it seems odd that Sony didn't make the top portion compatible with slim covers.
Nishino also revealed that 20% of customers bought the $400 (at launch) PlayStation 4 Pro in addition to those who bought the regular PS4. However, this price reduction won't be happening this time around. The PS5 Elite is $700, while the PS5 remains at $500. This does not mean that the PlayStation 5 Elite won't sell well. Just look at how many people fought each other to get their hands on the 30th Anniversary limited edition Pro model.
Eventually, gamers will purchase a PS5 Elite and attempt to sell their older console. But is Sony really doing all this just to make a few extra bucks off those who want specific console covers? It seems unlikely that there won't be new Pro-specific covers at launch. The major update for the Pro is the enhanced GPU and the promise of AI upscaling. However, if the purpose of consoles is to make gaming easier than PCs, compatibility should be a priority.
As Nishino said in the Variety interview, "the Pro is not a next-gen. It is still in the PS5 generation. The PS5 Pro will do everything that the PS5 does." Of course, that doesn't include playing game discs right out of the box.
The development of the PS5 Elite was already underway "even before" the launch of the original PS5 in 2020, as revealed by Sony Interactive co-CEO Hideaki Nishino. Nishino highlighted that the focus was on advanced technologies that can progress within three to five years, reflecting the rapid pace of technological innovation in the modern world.