PS5 Pro reviews: Top 3 complaints about the new console

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is finally here and the reviews are in.

Sony’s refresh of the PlayStation 5 is garnering moderate acclaim across the tech world as reviewers delve into its features. Early impressions from The edge, IGN, Tom’s hardwareand others suggest that the PS5 Pro has stepped up and is now the ultimate way to experience gaming on the console. That said, the biggest standout so far has been PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) – Sony’s new AI-powered upscaling tool.

Not only is the PS5 Pro a performance beast, but it’s also a feat of thoughtful redesign. It’s smaller, lighter and operates quieter than its predecessor, addressing a few of the more common criticisms of the original PS5.

In The Verge’s review, senior editor Sean Hollister summed it up well: “In every title I tried — while sitting no more than eight feet away from a 65-inch TV — the PS5 Pro was clearly the better place to play.”

But just because the graphical fidelity is more visually appealing doesn’t mean it’s an easy recommendation. Here’s the bad:

1. PS5 Pro is too expensive

It’s no shocker that the price tag has become a sticking point across reviews. At $700, the PS5 Pro isn’t an easy sell for the more casual gamer who might be satisfied with the base PS5’s already impressive performance. For most gamers, the jump in visual fidelity might not feel quite worth the extra money, especially when the base model continues to deliver a great experience at a much more accessible price.

As Rory Mellon of Tom’s Hardware put it“It’s an extravagant purchase that doesn’t offer the same value for money as can be found in the base PS5, which remains an extremely capable console.” Many echo this sentiment. While the PS5 Pro brings improvements, it doesn’t fundamentally change the gaming experience enough to warrant a premium for those outside of the enthusiast crowd.

2. There is no disk drive

In addition to the high barrier to entry, the PS5 Pro does not come with a disc drive. “Given the price, you’ll be disappointed to find that the PS5 Pro doesn’t come with all sorts of bells and whistles,” said Michael Higam in his IGN review.

However, Sony has thrown in some marginally good news. If you’re in the physical media camp, you can add a disc drive to the PS5 Pro. But be prepared – it will set you back an extra $80. The vertical stand is also another separate purchase. It’s a strange move by Sony, considering that if there was a Venn diagram of hardcore console fans ready to drop $700 on the Pro and those who still prize physical copies of games, it would probably be one big circle.

For a company betting on its most devoted players, charging extra for essentials feels like a tone-deaf strategy.

3. Lack of games

Not to add to the annoying “but the PS5 has no games” discourse, one of the minor gripes of the Pro is that there are no games to sell you on buying the console.

Sony’s flagship first and third-party titles have received quality patches to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities, but they’re just that – patches.

As Polygon’s reviewer Cameron Faulkner notes in his revieware the graphical improvements between the 50 Sony games that received patches, a “mixed bag”.

The consensus among reviewers is that with the next few years of the PS5’s life cycle, games in 2025 and beyond will be able to take full advantage of the graphical and performance improvements of the console. If they’re able to do that, the Pro might not be such a hard sell for its price tag.