GameStop Lists PS5 Pro Console at $500 Above MSRP
A severe global component shortage has driven up resale prices and retailer markups for Sony's advanced gaming console.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Surging Resale Prices and Retailer Markups
As the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 approaches, gamers are scrambling to maximize gameplay with the most advanced hardware on the market. Sony is currently facing a massive shortage of its popular console as the AI boom consumes the world's silicon supply. This ongoing production challenge has severely strained supply chains and is expected to last well into 2027.
Originally released in 2024, Sony raised the console's price by $200 to $899.99. However, consumers looking to purchase a system face even higher costs due to supply and demand pressures. GameStop has listed a used PlayStation 5 Pro for an eye-popping $1,399.99, pricing the hardware half a grand over its MSRP.
Broader Tech Shortages and Industry Impact
The supply constraints affecting the PlayStation 5 Pro are tied to broader manufacturing trends across the consumer electronics sector. Data centers are aggressively acquiring high-bandwidth memory to support advanced artificial intelligence processors. This has caused a cascading shortage of the dynamic random-access memory required for consumer devices.
An August 2026 JP Morgan report projected that global DRAM prices would surge 400 percent from the console's initial 2024 launch window by the end of the year. German gaming publication Playfront reported in September 2026 that internal distribution memos from Sony indicate the shortage will persist through early 2027 at the earliest.
Retail Landscape and Competitor Pricing
GameStop is far from the only major retailer capitalizing on the console's restricted availability. Best Buy is currently selling the console for over $1,500, while Walmart has offered open-box units for $1,200. These soaring rates closely mirror broader online resale channels, where eBay listings regularly exceed $1,100.
The steep inflation extends across the wider consumer tech market. According to a September 2026 report by The Economist, the consumer price index for computer software and accessories jumped by 31 percent. Alongside the PlayStation 5 Pro price increase, base PlayStation 5 models have risen by roughly 30 percent, contributing to video game hardware sales hitting a 13-year low.
Hardware Features and Value Evaluation
The PlayStation 5 Pro offers distinct technical improvements over its predecessor, including the capacity to run 4K graphics at 60 frames per second, 2 terabytes of memory, an upgraded GPU, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Its standout feature is the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution image upscaler, which utilizes artificial intelligence to sharpen pixels.
Although Sony subsequently introduced Quick Spectral Super Resolution to standard PlayStation 5 hardware via an update, the Pro model remains the more powerful system. Nevertheless, with retailers charging heavily inflated prices well above official manufacturer retail figures, reviewers question whether the hardware upgrades justify the extreme cost.
Sources
- EngadgetGameStop is hoping PS5 Pro buyers are desperate enough to pay $500 over MSRP
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