Sony is selling refurbished PS5s for half the price of the Pro to soften the price shock

Sony PlayStation unveiled the PS5 Pro yesterday, promising an enhanced gaming experience for new and existing players. What was supposed to be a groundbreaking news day quickly turned sour when an outrageously high $700 price tag was announced.

It didn’t take long before people online began to fiercely mock Sony for asking gamers to pay so much for a mid-generation upgrade, on top of having to buy other accessories separately. Not only that, but the standard PS5 is still an expensive machine at $500. However, all is not lost for the more budget-conscious gamer, as Sony is offering a slight alternative for those still looking to adopt their own PS5. PlayStation Direct will be selling refurbished PS5s, both regular and digital editions, at a much lower price.

According to the website, the standard version will retail for $400, while the digital version will be $50 cheaper. Refurbished controllers will also be on sale for $60, with alternate colors available for a few dollars more, also cheaper than the standard $75 DualSense price. The website also promises that every refurbished PS5 is thoroughly tested and cleaned before purchase, with all replacement parts added if necessary, and a guaranteed warranty on all products.

The refurbished PS5s and controllers haven’t gone on sale yet, but we can assume they’ll be available to purchase around or before the PS5 Pro launches in late November, or even ahead of pre-order in September. So it appears that those looking to purchase a PS5 will have plenty of options this holiday season, whether it’s a standard, Pro, or refurbished version. Having so many options is definitely a much better alternative than being forced into buying the most expensive edition.