Sony is facing a prolonged PlayStation 5 Pro shortage, according to a report from German gaming outlet Playfront cited by Engadget. Sony has reportedly told distribution partners that "temporary market supply constraints and high demand" will keep limiting retailer stock until at least 2027. The console, which launched in November 2024, now sells for roughly $200 above its original $699.99 MSRP, and resale listings at retailers like Best Buy have reached $1,539.
The supply squeeze is tied to broader chip scarcity driven by the AI boom, which has also pushed up laptop prices and memory component costs. Sony has tried to manage demand in Japan with a lottery system that includes minimum gaming time requirements to deter resellers. Similar measures may become more common if supplies do not catch up with demand.
Demand is expected to spike further with the November 19 release of Grand Theft Auto 6, the first mainline installment in 13 years. With no PC release date announced, many gamers see the PS5 Pro as the best way to experience the game's visuals. However, it remains unclear whether GTA 6 will meaningfully use the Pro's advanced features: Rockstar has said the game will run at 30 fps on both consoles, and official preview footage was played on a standard PS5. Analysts quoted in the report suggest the Pro's modest CPU gains may help with crowds and traffic, but the visual gap between the base PS5 and the Pro could be narrow once AI upscaling arrives on the base model.