A “Pro” version of the PlayStation 5 has been leaked. The PS5 Pro has been an open secret in the gaming industry for some time now, with Sony expected to release the console before the end of the year. Previous reports and rumors have detailed the hardware upgrades the new console may have over the PS5. Now, the design of the PS5 Pro has been leaked, along with Sony’s launch plans.
“PS5 Pro” is said to be the console’s official name
This information comes from reliable leaker billbil-kun, who has a history of providing accurate information about unreleased games and console hardware. In a report published by Dealabs on Thursday, he shared information about the upcoming console’s possible official name, design details, and release timeline.
According to Billbil-kun, Sony’s upgraded PS5 will be called “PS5 Pro” – no surprise there. When the PlayStation parent company launched the PS4 Pro in September 2016, three years after the launch of the PS4, it followed a similar naming convention to the previous generation of consoles.
PS5 Pro design details
The leaker also shared an alleged sketch of the PS5 Pro, which is reportedly based on the visuals seen on the front of the new console’s final box. The report says the visual cannot be shared due to copyright reasons, but the illustration shows a similar console design to the PS5 Slim released last year. The PS5 Pro’s fascia appears to feature three horizontal black stripes, with two USB Type-C ports and a power button on the front of the console – the same as the PS5. The upcoming console reportedly retains the PlayStation 5’s iconic white color scheme. It also looks thicker than the PS5 slim.
Oddly, however, the PS5 Pro sketch lacks a disc drive, and the illustration could be based on a digital version of the console. The leaker couldn’t confirm whether there is an optical drive version of the PS5 Pro, but said that an external optical drive can be connected to the console, just like the PS5 Slim. The report claims that releasing the PS5 Pro without an optical drive could be a “business choice” for Sony to sell the new console at a competitive price. The report also says that the PS5 Pro will come with the same DualSense controller that comes in the PS5 box.
PS5 Pro illustration reportedly based on console box visuals
Photo credit: Dealabs
PS5 Pro release schedule
Finally, a leaker revealed Sony’s plans to release the console. Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that Sony was preparing to hold a State of Play event before the end of September, with Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb hinting that the company might show off the PS5 Pro at the showcase. According to billbil-kun, the PlayStation 5 Pro will be released “soon” – as soon as the first half of September 2024.
While details about the PS5 Pro have been emerging over the past year, Sony has yet to confirm the console’s existence. PS5 sales have been slowing, and the upgraded update could give the console a boost in the second half of its life. In its recently released financial report for the March to June quarter, Sony sold 2.4 million PS5 units, well below analysts’ expectations of 3 million units.