According to Sony's Shuhei Yoshida, the PlayStation 4 Pro is off to an unexpectedly strong start. Speaking with Digital Spy, the likeable suit admitted that the company had primarily anticipated the premium platform to sell to early adopters, but it turns out that many are selecting the supercharged system as their first foray into the world of PS4.
"We need more time to analyse the situation, but it seems that more people who are buying PS4 for the first time are choosing PS4 Pro," he told the British website. "I think that's driving a larger demand than we had anticipated. In many markets it's sold out and hard to find."
While this does come as a slight surprise, it's easy to see why informed consumers are plumping up for the PS4 Pro; the new console certainly costs more than the PS4 Slim, but given the extra hardware that it's packing under the hood, it's actually very competitively priced. It would appear that many are plumping up for the extra horsepower in order to future proof themselves.
[source digitalspy.com]
Comments 20
I had an idea that selling VR as better on Pro was just a way to sell the Pro and see if anyone wants VR rather than push this new gaming. Not so sure now. :/
To touch on future proofing, I bought a Pro although I do not own a 4K tv. The tv will come eventually, but I wanted the console first to, just as you said, future proof my living room. 🤓
I'm one of them who got it as my first PS4. Super happy with the purchase. Driveclub, Bloodborne, The Last of Us, and more games has also found its way home for the first time.
Not sure if its true, but from what I've heard Sony only brought in less than 150 units to sell here. A lot of people who pre-ordered it even before the console was launched are still having to wait for their PS4 Pros due to limited stocks.
@WanderingBullet
Where is here for you?
All future proofing aside, my favourite aspect is just how silent it is compared to my launch day console. It's more like a cartridge console from the 90's to me
I want a Pro, in theory, but I'm not getting one because I seriously can't be bothered to move all my stuff over to a new system.
@johncalmc Haha, it's pretty simple to do.
@get2sammyb Honestly, man, I'm just so bad at stuff like that. Technology totally annoys me. It's the same reason I've never upgraded the hard drive in my PS4.
I'm guessing it's just a case of uploading all my saves to the cloud and then just downloading everything again.
Obviously he didn't do this interview with the Japan numbers in front of him.
I wanted to buy the Pro, but then I would have wanted a 4k TV to go along with it - I bought a 52" 1080p HDTV to go along with my first PS3 - so I saved about $150 or so (Cartwheel) and got the Slim. I should be ready for a 4k TV when PS5 gets remodeled.
@rjejr Yeah... weird discrepancy between Japanese numbers and what Shu says!
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi Why would they do that when Shuhei even insinuates that it's out of stock? You can only sell as many as you can manufacture, and if they're selling out at full-price, bundles would just eat into their revenue.
@Mahe I wonder why that could be... It's almost like consoles are universally fudged in Japan...
I really don't see the Pro as Future Proof! Its more of a half step into the future but its still got 1 foot firmly placed in the current era. Not just talking 'resolution' and the lack of native 4k in the majority of games but the fact its locked to this generation and the limitations of the PS4. Games don't look that on a base PS4 when upscaled on a 4k screen anyway although the difference the Pro makes is noticeable. Its still not bringing anything 'new' as such. By that I mean that if/when a game/feature/DLC cannot run on a PS4, it won't be available to PS4 Pro either even if the extra power has the potential to run it at an 'acceptable' (base PS4?) standard so its still offering the same as the PS4 does and will offer - just at higher resolutions - you don't need one for Horizon:Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda or whatever PS4 game(s) you want to play. I don't have an issue with this myself...
The point is, the Pro is still a PS4, albeit more powerful and does dip its toes into the most up to date display technology but its life cycle is 3yrs less than the original PS4 - it won't get games released for 3yrs after the PS4 for example and so its lifecycle is the same as the Slim. It doesn't offer 4k HDR Bluray though - the future of film. I know you can stream some 4k and/or HDR content (if your internet is fast enough) but then as 4k HDR TV's also offer this, its hardly a unique selling point and the quality doesn't always live up to the quality of a Bluray either.
I am not surprised that the Pro is popular amongst first time PS4 gamers. For the difference in cost, you are getting a much more powerful device that offers more games at 1080p (at least) and 60fps too. It has an expansive back catalogue as well. It will play all games at least to the same standard as the PS4 and a selected few titles at better visual levels with a few of those offering a higher or more consistent frame rate. Of course moving forward, the number of enhanced games will increase but you won't get any extra games/content etc that base PS4 owners won't also have.
Like I said, I don't have issue with this. I already owned a 4k HDR TV and so this was a good fit for my set-up. I am under no illusion though that its still a PS4 and just offering the PS4 experience - albeit with shinier visuals in some games.
I'll wait for the next year, Switch is coming in march and I already have a PS4 so no hush hush.
Did Yoshida ask everyone who bought one if it was their first one?
It's the first I've heard about it being such a quiet machine, too, which definitely gets me excited, mine is SO loud running some games! Like an angry Windows 95 clunkathon!
@gingerfrog Malaysia.
Still waiting for February and a Horizon bundle.
I got one as my first PS4 got it for $350.00 during an amazon sale
I plan on the Pro being my first PS4 as well, assuming they don't release a PS4 Pro Slim or whatever .
Hopefully as early as Black Friday 2017, depends on how cheap real 4K TVs are by then.
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