Given the significant investment required for the PS5 Pro, are you prepared to commit to its steep price tag? The PlayStation 5 will come with a hefty price tag, sparking outrage among gamers as it was announced at $699.99/£699.99 on Tuesday, prompting a barrage of incredulous tweets and articles. Many individuals have been inquiring whether it’s a straightforward decision to opt for a PC as a viable alternative.
Richard Leadbetter, founder of esteemed digital research organization Digital Foundry, has been posed a precise quandary by IGN. Not surprisingly, his response is not a straightforward “yes”, precisely because…
Leadbetter noted that a comparable PC build to what a professional like himself might appreciate is likely to be a significant step up from even the most advanced console, such as the PS5 Pro. When considering the overall landscape of graphics processing units (GPUs), the one you’ll likely desire features a comprehensive suite of enhancements – namely, improved ray tracing capabilities, unparalleled in current AMD offerings, as well as machine learning blocks not found on rival AMD GPUs.
“The closest comparable GPU to the Pro would be the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, with the 4060 being roughly equivalent to base PlayStation 5 specifications excluding machine learning and ray tracing capabilities. According to Leadbetter, the most affordable 4070 he found retailed for $540. Beyond that, you’d need a CPU, motherboard, memory, power supply, case, and a 2-terabyte SSD, significantly increasing costs.”
Leadbetter acknowledged some “mitigating factors”, including the absence of a need to subscribe to PlayStation Plus to play online games or store cloud saves, and emphasized that a thorough analysis would require comparing the costs of the PS5 Pro with those of a PC over a year to gain a comprehensive understanding.
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He observed wryly, “In essence, the PS5 Pro seems poised to tantalize the already-converted, catering to enthusiasts who’ve recently acquired a PlayStation 5 and now possess the means to upgrade to an even more formidable model. It seems that players transitioning from PlayStation to PC will inevitably leave their extensive game libraries behind, prompting them to consider a daunting departure.
Leadbetter posits that the transition may be “a step too far” for many established PlayStation gamers, noting that it will likely not resonate equally with those considering a switch from other platforms, such as Xbox.
As he noted, the PS5 Professional’s higher price tag in regions like Europe and Japan makes the argument for switching to PC more appealing, particularly when considering the limitations of controllers on PCs compared to their seamless integration with consoles on the couch.
What do you assume? Have you ever found yourself torn between purchasing a powerful gaming computer and the latest PlayStation 5 console, both capable of delivering an immersive gaming experience? Tell us under.
