Sony's strategy with the PlayStation 4 Pro is strange to say the least. The optional iterative console which launched last year makes a sizeable difference to standard PS4 releases, but the platform holder almost seems scared to promote it. And while we assumed that was merely a consequence of it keeping the spotlight on the PS4 Slim over the holidays, it looks like little is going to change as the New Year gets underway.
Take this Horizon: Zero Dawn package that the manufacturer's prepared for Europe: it includes a copy of Guerrilla Games' latest, a three month PlayStation Plus membership, and a 1TB… PS4 Slim. It'll be available from 1st March alongside the game, and will even boast its own beautiful custom box art. But it's weird that, given the role-playing release's status as a flagship PS4 Pro title, it doesn't come with the supercharged system instead.
Now, to be fair, it's hard to find the new console at the moment, suggesting that the company's having some stock issues. And with that in mind, perhaps a bundle doesn't make much sense until it gets its supply chain in order. But all the same, one has to wonder whether the PS4 Pro will ever get any promotion, or if it exists solely to appeal to the whims of the most hardcore players. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
[source blog.eu.playstation.com]
Comments 23
Well.. I guess it lends some weight to their promise not to leave standard PS4 gamers behind. I suppose the idea is that if you are savvy enough (sorry, Pro enough) to have done the correct research and got the appropriate TV you'd be smart (and flush) enough to know which version of the PS4 you get to go with it. Sony just want you gaming in their ecosystem.
I think you're first guess is right no point promoting something in short supply, as nice as it would be there's no point creating all that animosity when a pro package is permanently sold out
It's also possible that Sony will hold off on Pro promotions until Scorpio comes out where they can price it very competitively.
It's worth remembering that Sony want this to be their next big franchise, so doing a bundle of their most expensive console might not have been a good idea anyway because they will want it in as many hands as possible.
Sony, how dare you not include a pro, and specifically a white pro in the box. With a candy pink ps4 logo and Feena engraved on the back. #dreamsfading
@adf86 I agree on your second point. Playing it safe.
So, will the US get the same bundle but w/ the 500GB HDD instead like the Uncharted 4 bundle? (So glad I got my Slim w/ U4 7 months after that for only $218, I can live w/o the art.)
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2016/02/uncharted_4s_limited_edition_ps4_bundle_is_a_true_treasure
Got a Slim for Christmas so I'm good, but why put out a Pro console to treat it like, well some other company did it's home console the past year? If they wanted it to go up against Scorpio then why not wait to release it this holiday rather than last holiday?
If they'd rather everyone spend their money on a Slim and PSVR rather than the Pro, well again, release Pro holiday 2017. Not that they are pushing PSVR all that hard either.
It is kind of strange.
Killer box art though, should sell a few more Slim in the dreary winter months and rainy spring months until whatever else bundle worthy comes out for the holidays.
Wasn't the Pro considered an optional upgrade from the start? I'll admit it's weird that it's presence has been somewhat subdued, but it isn't really far fetched to say it's only for hardcores.
Maybe packaging it with the Pro would drive the cost up or something. Or considering how close it is to Zelda, they probably just want to shift units, Pro or not.
@DerMeister I did think about the whole Zelda thing, but nah this must have been arranged ages before that was announced.
@kyleforrester87 More than likely, yeah. It was just a possibility that popped up in my head.
I think @kyleforrester87 has hit the nail on the head, they're just using Horizon to bring new gamers on board and most won't care of have a TV to take advantage of the Pro. Ultimately the Pro will always be in the minority and it sells itself to those who care about it, this may change when that Scorpio thing comes out
I personally bought the Pro at launch and a new TV largely because of this game and how it showed off the hardware so I'm hoping the game is as good as it looks
Sure about the stock issues? I think that Sony cares more about selling Horizon than selling the Pro at the moment. The €50 can make a big difference.
Wasn't this game their poster child for PS4 Pro?
The strategy is... Get people to buy a regular system first. Then down the road as that user becomes tempted by the Pro, they'll possibly buy one as an upgrade. This way Sony sells two systems to one customer.
If the initial sale makes an upgrade unnecessary, then Sony doesn't shift as many units.
BTW, this box art is gorgeous. I want that box!
I think they realized that it was not a good strategy to release a PS4 Pro and are rethinking their decision.
Ps4 Pro for the hard core gamers wtf?! It makes such a crappy difference it just not worth the update!!
My guess is that Sony doesn't market the PS4 Pro because the majority of people who would buy it for that price are hardcore gamers who already know about it and will buy it no matter what as long as it's not way overpriced.
I have been seeing that the Pro is really hard to find lately. Is that really the case?
Not gonna lie, I would've bit on a custom themed PS4 pro bundle. Oh well, maybe Destiny 2 will have one....
If I was recommending a new console to the fence sitters still out there in 2017, I'd say go with a PS4 Slim. 4K tvs are getting more popular but aren't mainstream yet, and HDR seems to be a more talked about feature than anything else and it's something the Slim supports. The price is also ridiculously good at $300 and it could go down to $250 at some point this year. If that happens with the library the PS4 already has and the fact games look good enough on it, there's no reason to promote the Pro over the Slim, which is why I still think it was a bit of miscalculation by Sony to release the Pro, especially if the PSVR factored into this. Should've just continued to avoid VR, not made the Pro, straight-up ripped off the Xbox One S and then waited until late 2018, late 2019 to release the PS5 as the next cutting-edge PlayStation product.
@Xaessya
Yes and no. It's a game that certainly seems as capable, or maybe even is the most capable of showing off what PS4 Pro can do. However, I think Sony wants this to be much more than just a PS4 Pro posterchild, it wants this game to be the next big PlayStation game and possibly even turn into the next be PS franchise. That takes precedence over a piece of hardware clearly aimed at the hardcore and nobody else.
New IP so not pushing it, that's all there is to it.
The fact everyone is saying this game is the pro poster child is probably why sony have done this. They have to show this game isn't just for a pro and will work fine on the normal ps4.
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