Gamers hoping to pick up a used PS5 Pro from GameStop in the near future may want to save their money. The used game retailer is reportedly planning to sell pre-owned PS5 Pro consoles received from trade-ins for far above their new MSRP. As the price of new game consoles continues to increase amid rising manufacturing costs, it seems used consoles from GameStop won’t offer a cheaper alternative for much longer.
GameStop has seen its fair share of controversy over the past few years, including criticism over its massive price increase for Pokemon TCG sets like 30th Celebration. The retailer also recently tried to acquire eBay for $56 billion, but GameStop’s offer was rejected. Now, GameStop is in hot water again as gamers discover the company’s plans to raise the price of pre-owned PS5 Pro consoles ahead of GTA 6‘s launch.
GameStop to Start Selling Pre-Owned PS5 Pro Consoles at Huge Markup
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via Sony -
Image via Wikimedia, GameStop -
GameRant | Source images: Sony
According to leaked internal guidelines for stores, GameStop plans to start charging consumers more for a used PS5 Pro console than for a new one. The memo notes that starting on October 16, pre-owned PS5 Pro consoles will retail for $1,399.99 for a digital edition and $1,499.99 for a physical disc edition. This price hike would constitute a $500 markup on PS5 Pro consoles compared to their MSRP.
Put the consoles in the correct order.
|
Console |
New Price |
Used Price |
|---|---|---|
|
PS5 Pro Digital Edition |
$899.99 |
$1399.99 |
|
PS5 Pro + Disc Drive |
$999.99 |
$1499.99 |
GameStop doesn’t appear to be the only retailer increasing the price of PlayStation 5 Pro consoles. Other electronics retailers like Best Buy and Walmart also have listings for PS5 Pros at or above the $1,500 mark. The difference between these retailers and GameStop is that these are new consoles, not pre-owned or refurbished PS5 Pros like GameStop is offering at that price point.
The culprit behind these drastic price hikes for the PS5 Pro is likely the overwhelming demand for the console ahead of GTA 6‘s release. Sony has already advertised that GTA 6 plays best on PlayStation, and pre-order numbers for the game on PlayStation are reportedly outpacing Xbox 6:1. With GTA 6 launching next month, many retailers like GameStop are likely trying to cash in on the demand for PS5 Pros by jacking up prices for the console before the game’s release.
Sony itself has added new requirements for purchasing a PS5 Pro in some regions, which involves a lottery system that Japanese consumers hoping to pick up the console will have to get through. Prices for gaming hardware are already on the rise thanks to the increase in demand for components like RAM, which is factoring into manufacturing costs. For gamers looking to try and save a little money on a new console, pre-owned PS5 Pros are typically a great alternative. However, with these new price hikes, gamers are likely better off saving their money until after GTA 6 releases and some of the hype around Rockstar’s newest game dies down.
Source: Push Square
