GameStop Lists PS5 Pro at Massive Markup Amid Global Shortage
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Retailers are leveraging component scarcity and GTA VI anticipation to drive prices well above MSRP.
GameStop is currently listing used PlayStation 5 Pro consoles for $1,399.99, a price point as Engadget first reported is $500 over the unit's MSRP. This opportunistic pricing is part of a broader trend among retailers; Engadget notes that Best Buy is selling the console for over $1,500, while Walmart has listed an open-box version for $1,200.
The price surge is driven by a global console shortage that Engadget reports, citing a Playfront report on internal Sony memos, will persist through early 2027 at the earliest. This scarcity is linked to the AI boom, which has depleted supplies of high-bandwidth memory. According to an August 2026 JP Morgan report, the price of DRAM is predicted to have risen 400 percent worldwide since the PS5 Pro's 2024 launch.
Demand is further intensified by the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is advertised as "PS5 Pro Enhanced." However, the value proposition is under scrutiny. Engadget points out that the console's primary AI upscaler, PSSR, only functions with specifically labeled games, and Sony recently announced it is bringing a similar functionality, Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), to the standard PS5.
These luxury price points arrive as the industry faces headwinds. The Economist reported in September 2026 that the consumer price index for computer software and accessories rose by 31 percent, and Engadget reports that video game hardware sales have hit a 13-year low this month.