The PS5 Pro announcement gives players a glimpse into this generation’s mid-life refresh, with advancements coming to Sony’s flagship console. However, the announcement has not gone down well with a large section of players and the internet. From minimal new features to an arguably unjustly amount of money to purchase one, the PS5 Pro isn’t doing too hot right now. As the days go on, many are beginning to look back and wonder just how the announcement compares to the initial reveal of the PS4 Pro.
Toted as the big, new change for the PlayStation 4, the PS4 Pro was in a similar situation of advancement. But, when you look back at it, did it have the same criticisms as the PS5 Pro does now? Or, does the next entry of Sony’s console lineup just feel truly out of touch with the consumer base it has been announced for?
Announcement Videos Make a Difference
Right off the bat, the differences between the PS4 and PS5 Pro are in their reveals. Announcement videos generate hype for those who are viewing them. When you go and rewatch the original video for the PS4 Pro, it was intense and mysterious. It brought intrigue to the console and felt like it was dropping a monumental piece within gaming. This is something that helps when announcing anything to do with games, whether consoles or titles. Another example is when games are announced with almost shock value added at the end of a trailer, it pulls the player in.
However, the PS5 Pro’s announcement does the exact opposite. While it is a technical presentation compared to an announcement of sorts, it feels almost disingenuous. The presentation of the console feels akin to the yearly iPhone announcements. While Mark Cerny does well describing the console, it seems like I’m being badgered with a monotone sales pitch. Announcing a console needs to feel like there is a soul to it, rather than an emptiness, and with the PS5 Pro, it feels like the latter. An announcement video isn’t the only thing to go off of, but it makes a difference, and just from that, many are already feeling turned off by the PS5 Pro compared to the PS4.
The Leap in Tech: PS4 Pro vs. PS5 Pro
The PS4 Pro’s announcement still shows a big leap forward for video games, especially PlayStation. Players got to experience games in a 4K resolution, something that consoles had not been capable of until then. Additionally, the GPU was beefed up and USB transfer speeds were faster, making a big difference for starting up and transferring games. Furthermore, the leap in tech was incredible and noticeable by many during its announcement. The PS4 Pro was taking players in a much clearer direction for the future.
When it comes to the PS5 Pro, however, it is a much more muted story. During the announcement, three big new features were highlighted. Two of those include a larger GPU and advanced ray tracing. But, right away I thought this felt kind of redundant, as many know the GPU provides ray tracing. Therefore, trying to sell it as multiple features felt off. Furthermore, many players did not really notice any major graphical improvements during the presentation. When jumping from 1080p or 1440p to 4K, there is a huge change. But with small jumps or being able to keep 40K/60fps, with some games, it doesn’t feel like a big jump but rather a small hop – if you look hard enough.
Tech innovations help to sell a console and the PS4 Pro was bringing players to a whole new level in terms of graphics. But with the PS5 Pro, it feels as though we aren’t being brought innovations, but rather sitting on cruise control with some small upgrades compared to the respective base models.
PS5 Pro Doesn’t Stick the Landing Like PS4 Pro Did
Overall, the PS5 Pro is not sitting right with many. The tech doesn’t feel all that worth the $700 price tag, and many are content with the PS5. While the same sentiment could be said following the PS4 Pro announcement, its new features were a big step up. Furthermore, the increase in price was around $100-$150 for a PS4 Pro. This is something that is justifiable, especially with what the console offers compared to the base PS4. It even has all of its features intact, rather than sold separately.
However, when you rewatch the PS5 Pro announcement, it feels a little distasteful. As a PlayStation owner myself, it seems like the mark has been missed. Rather than focus on what players want – with a majority seeming to want more stable framerates – we got some clearer pixels. While there is some better tech, it’s not good enough for a massive premium increase in the price. Additionally, with components such as a disc drive and even a vertical stand not being paired with the console, it feels as though the announcement and the PS5 Pro altogether were put together at the last minute. In an age of gaming where many are keeping a close eye on things, it seems like the PS5 Pro announcement just isn’t going to be as monumental as the PS4 Pro’s was.
