GRAPEVINE, Oct 07 — $1,499. That is the price GameStop is asking for used PlayStation 5 Pro consoles on its website and in select stores. The bottom line: Secondary market speculation is driving used hardware prices to more than double the original MSRP.
Investors will note that the PS5 Pro debuted at $699. The current $1,499 asking price for pre-owned units represents a significant jump over that original retail value.
For context, the standard PS5 launched in November 2020 with a $499 price tag for the disc edition and $399 for the digital version. The figure that matters for GameStop’s business model is 25%. According to the company’s 2023 annual report, pre-owned goods accounted for approximately 25% of total sales.
Based in Grapevine, Texas, the retailer was founded in 1984 and has increasingly leaned on trade-ins and pre-owned sales as a core revenue stream to offset the growth of digital distribution.
The GTA VI Effect
Demand is being fueled by the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI. Rockstar Games has scheduled the title for release in fall 2025. Industry analysts note that past Grand Theft Auto launches have historically driven surges in demand for consoles and accessories.
They point to GTA V, which contributed to sustained sales of the PS4 and Xbox One years after its 2013 debut. The PS5 Pro targets enthusiast gamers.
Released by Sony in November 2023 as an upgraded version of the standard hardware, the Pro model features support for 8K output, improved ray tracing, and enhanced GPU performance to provide higher fidelity experiences.
Market Mechanics
This is not a fixed corporate policy. The pricing strategy for these used units appears to reflect market-based or algorithmic adjustments tied to anticipated demand and perceived scarcity. As of the latest available data, the listings remain active.
Neither Sony Interactive Entertainment nor GameStop has issued an official statement regarding the pricing. The situation highlights how major entertainment releases can shift the secondary market for gaming hardware, even for premium models that were released recently.
Watch for how these prices fluctuate as the fall 2025 release date for Grand Theft Auto VI approaches.
