The former Blizzard boss says the $700 PS5 Pro is actually more of a $350 upgrade, as it's aimed at people who can trade in their PS5 at "places like GameStop."

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra has some thoughts on the controversial $700 price tag for the newly revealed PS5 Pro.

Yes, the PS5 Pro costs a whopping seven hundred dollars, and for that hefty price tag you get a much more powerful GPU with the capacity for 45% faster rendering and significantly improved ray tracing. There's also the new PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (or PSSR) technology, which offers AI-powered upscaling for a sharper image using machine learning. For a more detailed analysis, check out our PS5 vs PS5 Pro specs comparison article.

No matter how you slice it, $700 is a lot of money at the best of times, and even more so in these economically uncertain times. In a tweet, Ybarra said there was a way to “look at this a little differently,” arguing that the updated console is aimed at “existing users who are upgrading” and that Sony's model takes existing trade-in and resale values into account to lower the barrier to entry.

“The model is: Existing PS5 owners can trade in their PS5 at places like GameStop for $350 in credit (today) that will apply to the $699 price, and now the upgrade price is $350,” Ybarra said. “While it's still not easy, it's a lot easier for some to stomach. This is the basic model they're using. It's not going to fit everyone, but it's all part of the larger launch plan.”

It's worth noting that the PS5 Pro costs less, adjusted for inflation, than the original PS3 did when it launched in 2006 for $600. But aside from that example, it's the most expensive PlayStation ever made, even adjusted for inflation.

In a reply to his original tweet, Ybarra rightly pointed out that “nobody has to buy the new console,” adding that for people who can afford the luxury, “it's nice to be able to say they have the fastest, most powerful console on the market.”

While that reading is as far removed from reality as you'd expect from any CEO, it's technically all true. My local GameStop in Phoenix, Arizona, is offering “up to” $385 for the standard PS5 with disc drive (eBay listings are around $350). That means if I traded in my PS5 for a PS5 Pro today, I'd pay about $315 for the upgrade, though Ybarra's analysis ignores the fact that the PS5 Pro doesn't include a disc drive, which is available separately for $80, nor a vertical stand, which is available for $30.

And of course, the core of his argument assumes that these trading values will endure. And ignores the market segment, no matter how small, that not already have a PS5. It just seems like a lot of words to essentially say, “Yes, it's expensive, but it's less expensive if you have a valuable item that offsets the cost.”

“For many, the existing PS5 is fine and people should be happy,” Ybarra concluded. “Similar to the S, it's fine. Some don't need the X. I understand it's difficult for developers to support all these different HW features, but it is what it is.”

Pre-orders for the PS5 will be available from September 26th, and the console will be released on November 7th.

PS5 mastermind Mark Cerny says that “developers' dreams” for 60 FPS are too big and that the goal of the PS5 Pro is to “eliminate that choice” between fidelity and performance.

The former Blizzard boss says the $700 PS5 Pro is actually more of a $350 upgrade, as it's aimed at people who can trade in their PS5 at “places like GameStop.”

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