Let's move past the internet reaction farmers and actually do our homework on this thing based upon what we can actually see.
Lets take a game that is on both PS5 and PC and work this out. Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, we were shown PS5 Pro Footage here:
Using PSSR, we have a gaming that visually is running at 4k 60fps with ray tracing on the PS5 Pro. It's right there in the video.
So if we want the same on PC, what do we need to use? Well we have the recommending specs right here: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/ratchet-and-clank-rift-apart/pc/
It says we need:
- Avg. performance: 4K @ 60 fps
- Graphic settings: High/Ray-tracing very high1
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
- RAM: 32 GB
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)
- Storage: 75 GB SSD space
So let's price that:
Before we have even added a motherboard, SSD, PSU, etc we are up to £1325!
I'm not saying that £800 for a PS5 Pro is cheap, it's not. That's a lot of money for a games console, but I think a bit of perspective here is in order.
To build a PC yourself (if you know how!) to match the advertised output of a PS5 Pro is going to cost upwards of £1500!
Again, I'm not saying PS5 Pro is cheap, it absolutely is not. I'm just saying that if you are in the market for a high end device, then all of a sudden it does become a viable option.
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But I think this does lead into a great discussion about the next generation. What is the next generation going to cost? Is this Sony getting a head start on the AI chips that will be required for PSSR in the PS6 in mass production now, to hopefully bring the price down in a few years time?
If Microsoft say they are going to make the biggest generational leap ever, what is the price going to be there? If they are moving away from the games sales subsidizing the console price model, and going to have multiple store fronts, how will that impact their next machine if Sony can't get the price down yet?
Is this why we have heard nothing from Nintendo about Switch 2? Is Nintendo holding back because they are having problems getting their device into a sub £300 price range?
