Sony is expected to release an upgraded PlayStation 5 ‘Pro’ model in 2024, putting it in a position to showcase the much-anticipated 2025 launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 at maximum quality. Industry analysts predict this strategic timing, though sales forecasts show complex dynamics.
As rumored, the PS5 Pro’s 2024 launch would align with historic console upgrade cycles. About three years post-launch, refreshed models reinvigorate interest. Crucially as well, Sony likely intends their souped-up console to deliver GTA 6 at unmatched graphical potential. Given gaming’s most hotly anticipated title in years, the hardware boost aims to thrust sales amid declining curves.
“There seems to be a broad consensus in the game industry that Sony is indeed preparing a launch of a PS5 Pro in the second half of 2024,”
Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based games consultancy Kantan Games, told CNBC.
“And Sony will want to make sure to have a great piece of hardware ready when GTA 6 hits in 2025, a launch that will be a shot in the arm for the entire gaming industry.”
Specifically, frames per second could leap while resolution scales up. Where PS5 may sputter at 30 FPS, PS5 Pro theoretically powers buttery 60 FPS gameplay. And where 4K gaming strains PS5 capacities, PS5 Pro promises GTA 6 won’t compromise visual sparkle.
Sales Forecasting Remains Complex
Still, shifting fortunes complicate forecasts. While launching PS5 Pro to showcase GTA 6 makes strategic sense, gaming profit margins are eroding. Thus, counterintuitively, Sony may leave PS5 prices static despite offering PS5 Pro. Consequently, though next-gen hardware comes, overall Playstation sales could yet decline year-on-year as adoption lags.
“A scenario where Sony launches a PS5 Pro, but still experiences declining year-on-year hardware sales is very much within the realms of possibility,”
said George Jijiashvili, senior principal analyst at research firm Omdia
Tantalizing Potential of Sony-Rockstar Collaboration
Beyond financials, PS5 Pro rumors suggest an intriguing Sony-Rockstar Games collaboration. GTA 6‘s expansive open world naturally pushes hardware limitations in AI, physics, etc. Perhaps Rockstar Games communicated PlayStation 5‘s constraints for their ambitious vision. If so, PS5 Pro becomes the solution for GTA 6‘s technical hurdles and showcases its most advanced features. This aligns with mutual interests – Rockstar Games benefiting from beefed-up power, and Sony driving upgrades.
In summary, market indicators point strongly toward a 2024 PS5 Pro launch timed with 2025’s monumental GTA 6 release. Sony aims to provide players with the best possible gameplay experience that only new hardware can deliver. If it materializes as predicted, the PS5 Pro‘s raw power paired with GTA 6 presents a tantalizing showcase for next generation immersive graphics.
