'GTA 6' Hype is Sending PS5 Pro Prices Through the Roof
Overview & Key Takeaways
Grand Theft Auto 6 hype has third-party retailers pricing PlayStation 5 Pro consoles for as much as $1,400.
After 13 years of waiting, Grand Theft Auto 6 finally gave fans something substantial to obsess over this weekend. Rockstar's 26-minute extended look showed off Jason and Lucia's latest adventures in Vice City, along with some seriously impressive visuals, from destructible environments and detailed character animations to dynamic reflections and sprawling wildlife.
The footage was captured on PS5 hardware, and the hype has already spilled over into the console market. Nobody may be more excited about GTA 6 than the third-party sellers cashing in on PS5 Pro demand.
PS5 Pro prices are skyrocketing
Following the GTA 6 extended look, the PS5 Pro has become considerably harder to find at its normal price in the U.S. Major retailers have been running out of stock, leaving third-party sellers to take advantage of the sudden demand.
At Walmart and Best Buy, via TechPowerUp, third-party listings for the PS5 Pro have climbed to as high as $1,400, including a $1,299.99 listing sold and shipped by a third-party seller. That's a significant jump from the console's $899 price. In other words, if you suddenly decided that you absolutely needed a PS5 Pro because you watched Jason and Lucia drive around Vice City for 26 minutes, you might now have to pay considerably more for the privilege.
Graphic: Grant Walkup/Polygon | Source images: Rockstar Games
There's a certain logic to the frenzy. Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6 will receive enhancements on PS5 Pro, although the company has not yet explained exactly what those enhancements will be. The extended-look footage itself was captured on PS5 hardware, making the Pro an obvious target for players who want to experience the game on the most powerful PlayStation console currently available.
Gaming hardware could get even more expensive
The GTA 6 hype is driving today's PS5 Pro price spike, but another price increase could be looming. The Trump administration is considering new tariffs on semiconductors and products that use them, including gaming consoles. If enacted, those costs could be passed on to consumers.
One of the two protagonists in GTA 6, Jason, shown holding a beer while in a bar. Industry analysts have claimed the game's budget already exceeds $1 billion.
Image: Rockstar Games
That's concerning at a time when the PS5 already costs $150 more than it did at launch, while other consoles have also seen substantial price increases. So while today's $1,400 PS5 Pro listings are largely a GTA 6 supply-and-demand story, there's reason to think console prices could keep climbing.
On top of the increasing console price, you might not even technically own the games you play in Sony's increasingly digital future. The company is currently facing a class-action lawsuit over the sale of digital games in California. The plaintiffs argue that customers are led to believe they are actually buying games when, according to Sony's own terms, they're purchasing a license to use software.
Sony's argument is essentially that reasonable consumers already understand this distinction. Its PlayStation agreement states that software is "licensed to you, not sold," while virtual content is licensed rather than owned.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is officially scheduled to launch on Nov. 19, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
