After PS4 Pro Release in UK, Sales Rise by 200%

by Sohrab Osati | Nov 15, 2016 | 0 comments
Sohrab Osati

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File this under shocking but after the release of PS4 Pro in the UK, sales have been up a staggering 200%. This is quite remarkable, as the new console hasn’t even been out for a week. Eddie Makuch writes for Gamespot:

 Citing data from Gfk, MCV reports that PS4 sales overall jumped 204 percent week-over-week for the week ended November 12.

According to the report, 65 percent of PS4 sales for the week were the Pro model. Standard edition PS4 sales jumped 8.5 percent week-over-week. 

There was never any real doubt that PS4 Pro would help boost sales. After all, the PS4 is well over 3 years old now and a refresh never hurts, but how much sales would increase had been a bit more of a mystery. Keep in mind that this increase is specific to the UK, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see global sales up for Q3 2016 and even surpassing that of 2015.

One of the biggest challenges with PS4 Pro is showcasing how much better the graphics are compared to the normal PS4 which will remain on sale, albeit at at $299. It would be one thing if PS4 had been phased out and replaced with PS4 Pro; Sony could showcase how much better their new console is compared to its predecessor. Apple does this routinely by showcasing the graphic performance that comes with each new chipset they introduce alongside the new iPhone.

But for Sony, PS4 will likely still be where the majority of their sales come from, if nothing more than the simple fact that it costs less, making marketing a bit more challenging. You can’t just throw your own product under the bus, right? At the same time, selling someone on visuals is challenging if you have nothing to compare the PS4 Pro against – it’s not as if we’ve been looking at PS4 ads and games like Uncharted 4 and saying how poor they look.

I’m still not sure what the best marketing strategy will be going forward for Sony and PS4 Pro because it is a console that benefits both HDTV and 4K TV owners, but whatever it is that they’re doing is working in the short term. It’s just a question of whether Sony can keep the PS4 Pro momentum going. Either way, with PS4 now selling at $299, PS4 Pro at $399, and PS VR at $399, Sony is going to have a strong holiday with PlayStation.

Discuss:

Do you think PS4 Pro will keep the PlayStation momentum going?