Sony is raising the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles globally starting April 2nd. In an announcement on Friday, Sony says that the standard PS5 will now cost $649.99, up from $549.99. Meanwhile, the PS5 Digital Edition now costs $599.99 instead of $499.99, and the PlayStation 5 Pro will cost $899.99 instead of $749.99.

Along with these changes, Sony is increasing the price of its PlayStation Portal as well, going from $199.99 to $249.99.

This is the second time in less than a year that Sony has raised the price of its PS5 consoles, as the company hiked prices by $50 for all three models last August. Sony cites "continued pressures in th …

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You don't need me to tell you the new PS5 Pro, on sale November 7th, is the most powerful PlayStation ever made. The real question: could it possibly be worth $700, the most Sony's ever charged for a game console?

I think I can answer that - but first, I need you to go find a measuring tape.

Find your favorite seat in front of the TV, then measure the distance between your head and the screen. Now measure your screen diagonally. Do you own a 65-inch or 55-inch TV, the most popular sizes? Do you sit 10 feet away or more? Then no, the PS5 Pro is probably not worth $700. Not even if you have 20/20 vision like me. The improved visual fidelity …

Read the full story at The Verge.

We’re inching ever closer to a mid-cycle refresh for the PlayStation 5, as preorders for Sony’s forthcoming console are now available to the masses. Although the $699.99 machine was originally exclusive to the PlayStation Direct storefront, it’s now up for preorder at all major retailers — including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target.

Sony’s retro-styled 30th Anniversary consoles and accessories also went up for preorder at the same time as the standard PS5 Pro, but unfortunately, they quickly sold out and are still unavailable.

Regardless of which PS5 Pro model you secure, the main prospect of the PS5 Pro is improved graphics and performance. The new console may lack a disc drive (you can get one for an additional $80), but its new GPU, AI upscaling, and better ray tracing promise a new level of fidelity for this console generation — with the ability to maintain 4K resolution at 60fps across select titles.

It may not be the most logical upgrade over a regular PS5 for everyone, but if you’re hungry for the best performance on exclusives like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, it may be the only way to achieve it (at least until Rebirth and other exclusives find their way to PC).

How to preorder the standard PlayStation 5 Pro

As previously mentioned, Sony was the first retailer to open up preorders for its $699.99 console through PlayStation Direct. As of this week, however, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are all now taking preorders, with a delivery date of November 7th.

Unlike the nightmarish PS5 restocks we witnessed in the early days of the pandemic, retailers don’t seem to have the heightened demand for the PS5 Pro that would necessitate lengthy queues. Some may require you to sign in with an account, however, and may still limit you to one console per order. Stock is still readily available, and even if they sell out, we expect to see more in the run-up to the PS5 Pro’s release.

Whether or not the rush returns, you may still appreciate these tips for increasing your chances of successfully preordering a console:

• Create an account for the retail site that you plan to use. This not only covers any potential sign-in requirements but also makes it easier to track your order once it ships.
• Have your billing / shipping info saved to make checkout as quick as possible.
• If necessary, try accessing the retailer’s site using both your computer and the accompanying mobile app for your phone or tablet. One may work better for you at any given time than the other.

PlayStation 5 Pro

The “pro” version of Sony’s PlayStation 5 has a bigger GPU, new PSSR AI-based upscaling, advanced ray tracing, and 2TB SSD (with expandable storage). The new features allow for better graphics at higher frame rates, allowing for the blending of “fidelity” and “performance” modes in some games. Read our review.

Where to Buy:

• $749 at Amazon
• $749.99 at Best Buy
• $749 at PS Direct

Where to order a PS5 Pro disc drive

Whether you’re going with a PS5 Digital Edition slim or a PS5 Pro, you’ll want to consider whether you anticipate needing a disc drive down the line. Neither console includes one — an especially egregious omission on the PS5 Pro, considering the price — which means you’ll be relegated to purchasing digital titles unless you pick one up.

That being said, it’s a good idea to secure the $79.99 disc drive (which is compatible with both the PS5 Pro and PS5 Digital Edition slim) sooner rather than later. We’ve recently noticed stock fluctuating at some retailers as prospective buyers prepare to receive their consoles. Currently, you can purchase one from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and the PlayStation Direct storefront.

Disc Drive For PS5 Digital Edition Consoles

Sony’s official disc drive for PS5 Digital Edition consoles allows you to retrofit both the PS5 Digital Edition and PS5 Pro with a bay for inserting physical games.

Where to Buy:

• $79.99 at GameStop (Pro members)

Update, October 11th: Added new retailer links for the PS5 Pro and a section regarding the PS5 disc drive, along with the latest info on Sony’s 30th anniversary console.

Eight years ago, PlayStation lead architect Mark Cerny showed me the power of the PS4 Pro in this very room. Today, I'm checking out the new PS5 Pro instead - and feeling some major déjà vu.

Like before, Sony is showing journalists a room full of screens at its PlayStation US headquarters just outside of San Francisco, playing 11 games side by side on both the original hardware and the guts of the new $700 Pro. Like before, you'll pay a hefty premium for graphical improvements rather than new titles. Like before, games will need to be patched to give you most of those boosts, and not all patches will be equal.

And like before, those improv …

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Sony has just revealed seven additional games that'll get enhanced by its PS5 Pro, coming November 7th, on top of the games it previously revealed. New titles include Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, F1 24, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Additionally, developers confirmed a number of extra games in an official PlayStation blog post, including the new Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, The Last of Us Part I, Spider-Man Remastered and Spider-Man Miles Morales, and Rise of the Ronin. Insomniac suggests Marvel's Wolverine will get enhanced for the Pro cosno …

Read the full story at The Verge.