According to recent posts by an industry analysis, PS5 pro sales are lagging behind PS4 pro. In fact, PS5 spending has reduced by 38% year-on-year.
When Sony first released the PlayStation 5 Pro in November 2024, it received a lot of praise and attention due to its high-end specifications. However, despite starting out well, the system is struggling to maintain upward momentum.
Industry Analyst Mat Piscatella mentioned in his Bluesky post that the overall video game hardware spending dropped by 45% to $205 million in January 2025, as compared to figures in 2024. In particular, Xbox Series spending has declined by 50%, whereas Nintendo Switch spending has reduced by 53%.
The numbers suggest that PlayStation 5 is not the only console that suffers from reduced sales and spending.
Mat Piscatella did not provide more figures for PlayStation 5 Pro’s sales. However, its high price and an overall reduction in console sales across the gaming industry could be a major reason for PS5 Pro’s inability to catch up with PS4 in terms of sales.
Overall, the past year hasn’t been great for gaming consoles, specifically in certain EU regions. In another report, it was noted that major consoles, including PS5, XBOX Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch, had 21% fewer sales than the prior year.
It is not certain whether the PS5 Pro will recover its sales. However, all hope is not lost. Rumors say that Sony could release a PS handheld alongside the PlayStation 6, powered by AMD’s chips.
Sony’s new console releases could reduce the current price of the PS5 Pro, making it more economical for gamers. On the other hand, Xbox is already focusing more on its software, whereas Nintendo expects to drive up its sales with the launch of the Switch 2 later this year.
Is there a future for PS5 Pro?
The PS5 Pro faced pricing challenges when it was launched with an expensive tag of $699. However, the console has shown gradual improvement in attracting gamers despite its unspectacular sales numbers.
Daily Star reports that improved older games and new titles with specific PS5 Pro enhancements will increase the product’s market appeal.
The PS5 Pro was launched with a double storage capacity and an improved GPU. The initial group of users who purchased the PS5 Pro model faced two issues. It supported only a restricted number of games, while the new Star Wars Jedi: Survivor performed worse on the Pro model. However, Sony has fixed the problems affecting the PS5 Pro’s game performance through active game patches.
GTA 6 may be a perfect fit for a PS5 Pro upgrade, as it is also the most anticipated release of the year. Meanwhile, the upgraded PS5 Pro hardware has already received optimized support from recent releases, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Path of Exile 2.
Furthermore, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, along with other major franchises, will also be completely optimized for the latest PS.
Sony is also working on its past game titles to make them compatible with the PS5 Pro system. Recently, hits like Astro Bot and Helldivers 2 received Pro upgrades. However, Cyberpunk 2077 and some other titles did not make it to the updated versions.
PlayStation’s PC push may also be lucrative for PS consoles
Bringing PlayStation exclusives to PC is like printing money, according to a former PlayStation executive, Shuhei Yoshida.
During his Sacred Symbols+ interview, Yoshida mentioned that he wanted PlayStation titles to get launched on PC earlier, but Sony did not consider this part of its previous strategic plan.
Now, the PC is Sony’s target platform, as consoles do not dominate specific regions with large audiences. Yoshida said, “In order to reach the audience in countries like China, it’s crucial to release it on PC. So, I believe PC versions really reach a new audience.”
Yoshida said, “The idea is that those people may become fans of a particular franchise, and when a new game in that series comes out, they may be convinced to purchase a PlayStation.”
Sony initiated its PC strategy with Horizon Zero Dawn in 2020, and multiple exclusive titles were introduced later. The PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was recently launched before The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered version, which will come out in April.
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