by
CNN
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After years of speculation and hype, Sony is set to release an upgraded version of its popular PlayStation 5 for the console’s highest price ever.
The PS5 Pro goes on sale on Nov. 7 for $700, about 40% more expensive than the PS 5 when it launched in 2020, Sony said Tuesday. Pre-orders begin on Sept. 26.
The latest console will have much more powerful computing power, enabling up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay, PS5 Pro lead architect Mark Cerny revealed in a video presentation. “Simply put, it’s the most powerful console we’ve ever built,” he said.
Sony has added custom hardware for machine learning and an AI Library that delivers super-sharp image clarity, he said. The console does not come with a disc drive, which is sold separately.
Sony wrote in a blog post that the new console will improve the performance of older titles. It said that “several games will be patched with free software updates, allowing gamers to take advantage of the PS5 Pro features.”
The current PS5 has sold more than 56 million units since its release, according to Sony, which said it expects to sell 18 million PS5 consoles this fiscal year. That’s down slightly from the 20.8 million units it sold in the same period a year earlier, Reuters reported.
Sales of the PS5 lagged behind those of its predecessor, the PS4, which had sold more than 114 million units since its launch in 2013. The PS4 dominated the gaming world, vastly outselling its rival, the Xbox One, developed by Microsoft Gaming.
