While the regular PlayStation 5 delighted scalpers when it launched in 2020 and for several months after, the trial version hasn’t been transformed with the PS5 Pro.
Remember that in November 2020 and long after it was a cross and a banner to get your hands on a PS5. Sony’s console was a commercial disaster as supply could not keep up with very strong demand. Lack of components that didn’t help either: the manufacturer couldn’t run factories at full capacity.
This context opened the door to scalpers, those individuals who use the scarcity of a product to make money at the expense of impatient people. They managed to get hold of even the smallest stock of PS5s (a few units) to sell for much more on the gray market. But imagine that this trick technique doesn’t work every time, proof s PS5 Pro.
PS5 Pro doesn’t make scalpers rich
Just take a quick look at the usual sales sites like leboncoin or eBay to see that prices are far from exploding for the PS5 Pro. We find them around €700/€750, which is more or less the price charged by dealers (€800). Back then, you sometimes had to spend a lot more for a regular PlayStation 5.
This observation was already verified at the launch of the PS5 Pro, as evidenced by this article from Chronicle of video games dating from November 8. The English media reported at the time: ” A large number of sellers are now offering the console for purchase for between £680 and £700, with bidding hovering between £510 and £670 – although these sales are sure to increase before they expire, they shouldn’t exceed the asking price of £700. . » Running out of stock is the worst thing that can happen to a scalper.
So those affected are stuck at their own game with the PS5 Pro, but it’s worth remembering that this remains speculation. So it is never an absolute success. Today, the most powerful console on the market is available from major retailers like Amazon. On the other hand, this is not the case removable disk drive which really makes scalpers happy. They will also be able to enrich themselves limited edition designed as part of the 30th anniversary.
Should we consider this PS5 Pro availability a failure by Sony? Not if we are to rely on the first sales figures from Japan. The PS5 Pro sold over 78,000 copies in its first week (via Gematsu, who cites Famitsu), when the PS4 Pro settled for 62,194 units. Solid, for a console doomed before its release due to its high price.