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$900 PS5 Pro Now Sold Out in US Amid GTA 6 Fever
Sony's PS5 Pro has completely sold out across major US retailers, with the console no longer available even through Sony's own PS Direct store, as demand surges ahead of the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The shortage comes despite an ongoing consumer "blackout" protest against PlayStation hardware, suggesting that anticipation for Rockstar's game is overriding boycott efforts and driving buyers towards Sony's most powerful console.
Third-party sellers on Amazon are reportedly charging up to $1,300 for the device, a significant mark-up on its $900 recommended retail price, while Best Buy and Target have also run out of stock, though Best Buy still has some "open box" units available just below MSRP. Sony has said GTA 6 will "play best" on PS5 Pro as its lead platform, and tech commentators have praised the game's graphics, fuelling demand even though a 60fps mode looks unlikely.
In short
- PS5 Pro sold out across US retailers, including PS Direct
- GTA 6 hype driving demand despite a hardware boycott campaign
- Resellers charging up to $1,300, well above the $900 price
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Buying the PS5 Pro ahead of GTA 6 can be a reasonable choice for players who want the strongest available console experience and expect to spend many hours with the game. If they value improved graphics and performance enough to justify the $900 price, a shortage may simply reflect strong demand rather than a rejection of the blackout protest.
The case against
The sell-out does not by itself show that the protest has failed: stock may be limited, and some purchases may be driven by hype or fear of missing out. At $900, with 60fps play apparently unlikely and resellers asking far more, consumers can reasonably question whether the upgrade offers value and whether paying inflated prices rewards scarcity.
Explained simply
The PlayStation 5 Pro is a more powerful version of Sony’s PS5 console, which connects to a television and plays video games. Sony sells it at a higher price than the standard PS5, partly because it can produce sharper images and smoother performance in some games.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is the next instalment in Rockstar Games’ long-running crime-adventure series. Its release is widely anticipated, and Sony has said the game will run best on the Pro model. The console is one of several platforms expected to play the game, so its performance on different systems is of interest to buyers.
Some consumers have also been taking part in a protest against PlayStation hardware, described as a “blackout”. This wider context has made demand for the Pro a point of interest as players weigh the console’s price and capabilities against their views on Sony.
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