This has been stoked by the console’s looming $150 jump from $749.99 to $899.99; the steepest increase across the lineup on what is already the most expensive video game console on the market.
It’s sparked a clear split in online communities, such as on Reddit or X/Twitter, with some fans rushing to lock in the lower price and effectively save $150, while others are choosing to wait it out and question whether it’s truly worth submitting to the FOMO that’s taken hold.
“This console is amazing, but can most of us agree it’s not worth $900? For all the people that are on the fence, buy one TODAY!” said senna98 in a top post in Reddit’s r/PS5Pro community.
This is par for the course since Sony’s announcement, with several online gaming communities currently inundated with posts that, for the most part, boil down to: “Buy your PS5 Pro now!” – “Should I buy a PS5 Pro now?” – and “I caved and bought a PS5 Pro!”
But not everyone is convinced the pressure to “buy now!” is worth it. Another popular post in the r/gaming subreddit simply says: “Fight the FOMO, ignore PS5 Pro”.
Followed up by “Don’t let the fear of missing out by some [billion-dollar] company tell you what to do with your hard-earned money.”
Other users echoed the sentiments, with comments such as: “Fight the FOMO is good advice in all areas of life. If for nothing else, practice it just for the sake of saving money” and “[Definitely] fight the [FOMO], it needs to be clear that this price point means it is economically non-viable.”
Yet, plenty of others replies also disagreed, stating: “What if I want to play [GTA 6] at 60 FPS? Shouldn’t I buy now while it’s cheaper?” and “Well no, don’t buy it because of FOMO. But if you want one and will get use out if it…then buying it before the price goes up probably makes a lot of sense.”
Some retailers are also striking while the FOMO debate is hot. GameStop, for example, quickly announced that it’s now offering up to $400 for a base PS5 trade-in.
Amazon, Best Buy, and Target are also among the major online retailers in the US still listing the console at its current MSRP. Yet that window is closing fast, with increases set to take effect this week on April 2.
Beat the price change. The time is now. pic.twitter.com/tbJXynJQ62
— GameStop (@gamestop) March 27, 2026
There have also been a slew of other Reddit posts from fans celebrating being early adopters, effectively dodging the two price hikes the PS5 Pro has gone through since launch.
Many Pro owners are also proudly flaunting the discount they bagged on the console during the Black Friday sales last year – where it was down to $649.99, a $250 saving compared to the new price.
“I’m so glad I pulled the trigger during the last Black Friday sale. I had [buyer’s] remorse after that at first. Not anymore…” said another user in a reply on the r/PS5Pro subreddit.
Plenty of comments and replies also reference the imminent release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November, and stating that it made an important influence on their decision to pick up the console this year.
With Rockstar’s surefire behemoth not launching on PC day one, it’s also expected to drive significant sales of the current generation of consoles.
“I saw that enough games benefited from PS5 Pro now to justify the purchase, and I took the plunge. Especially because I bet it would be the best way to play [GTA 6], when that releases in November.” said TackoftheEndless, who already upgraded to the Pro in January of this year.
Another user, Ok-Faithlessness-897, said: “I was originally planning to wait for the GTA 6 bundle. But a thought crossed my mind that prices might go up, which made me panic, so I decided, “Forget it-I’ll just buy it now, even without the bundle.””
Sony’s newly upgraded PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) algorithm on the PS5 Pro may also be quietly convincing some fans to upgrade.
PSSR uses AI to analyze game images pixel by pixel, boosting resolution without tanking performance. New games like Resident Evil Requiem and Crimson Desert run smoother and sharper, while older Pro-optimized hits such as Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth get a noticeable visual boost.
Whatever side of the fence you’re sitting on with the Pro – it does still like look plenty of gamers are giving in to the FOMO, and pulling the trigger on the pricey upgrade.
Still, concerns continue to mount that gaming is becoming, or may already be, too costly for many. Speaking to Edge magazine (via PC Gamer), Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted that gaming is increasingly trending toward a hobby for high earners.
“A bigger portion of the market is going to people who are more affluent, have higher incomes, and the lower-income parts of the market are really struggling,” said Piscatella. “That premium gaming space is leaning more and more on the affluent consumer.”
Another common response you’ll also typically see, especially in the comments below, from those who have lived through many console generations will be “I remember when consoles decreased in price throughout a generation”
And while it has typically become a “Say the line, Bart!” form of commentary, it is still nevertheless a painful reminder of the realities of world’s current economic climate.
The price hikes come at a turbulent time for global markets, with US tariffs and the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine adding pressure. RAM costs have also surged, driven by the global memory shortage fueled by AI demand.
Sony isn’t alone in raising console prices. Nintendo increased the price of the original Switch in August last year, sparking concerns that the Switch 2 could also cost more. Microsoft followed suit in May, raising prices on Xbox consoles, controllers, and headsets.
It leaves you wondering: are $1,000 consoles, such as the PlayStation 6, on the horizon?
Robert Anderson is IGN’s Senior Commerce Editor and resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Bluesky.
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