Where to preorder the PS5 Pro and PlayStation’s 30th anniversary collection
The standard PS5 Pro may not look as cool as its 30th anniversary counterpart, but it will likely be much easier to get your hands on. | Photo by Sean Hollister / The VergeWe’re inching ever closer to a...
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We’re inching ever closer to a mid-cycle refresh for the PlayStation 5, as the PS5 Pro’s staggered preorder schedule is beginning. The $699.99 console is about to be available to preorder in the US at 10AM ET / 7AM PT through Sony’s PlayStation Direct storefront, so if you want to secure one ASAP, you’ll want to jump in line at Sony’s site (be sure to have your PlayStation Network login info handy).
Also going up for preorder at the same time are Sony’s retro-styled 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro bundle ($999.99), PS5 Digital Edition slim ($499.99), PlayStation Portal ($219.99), DualSense ($79.99), and DualSense Edge ($219.99).
However, if you don’t have much luck in the queue, preorders for the standard PS5 Pro at retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Amazon are set to open on October 10th.
The main prospect of the PS5 Pro is improved graphics and performance. The new console may lack a disc drive (you can get one for an additional $80), but its new GPU, AI upscaling, and better ray tracing promise a new level of fidelity for this console generation — with the ability to maintain 4K resolution at 60fps across select titles. It may not be the most logical upgrade over a regular PS5 for everyone, but if you’re hungry for the best performance on exclusives like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, it may be the only way to achieve it (at least until Rebirth and other exclusives find their way to PC).
How to preorder the standard PlayStation 5 Pro
As mentioned above, Sony is opening up preorders for its $699.99 console first through PlayStation Direct, which requires a PlayStation Network account. The site adds you to an online queue that refreshes automatically. If you’re one of the lucky ones to get through the queue without a hitch, you’ll be given a timed window to preorder the console and any accessories you might want. The PS5 Pro is set to land on November 7th, so preorders are expected to arrive then.
The official PlayStation storefront may get first dibs on preorders, but retailers will have their opportunity to shut up and take your money on October 10th. That includes big ones like Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Amazon. If the nightmarish PS5 restocks we witnessed in the early days of the pandemic were any indication, some retailers will have an organized queue in place while others (cough, cough... Amazon) may feel a bit like a bot-infested wild west. Here’s our go-to advice when the time comes:
$700
The “pro” version of Sony’s PlayStation 5 has a bigger GPU, new PSSR AI-based upscaling, advanced ray tracing, and 2TB SSD (with expandable storage). The new features allow for better graphics at higher frame rates, allowing for the blending of “fidelity” and “performance” modes in some games.
How to preorder the 30th anniversary PS5 Pro (Update: sold out)
Launching two weeks after the PS5 Pro is Sony’s special 30th anniversary collection, a capsule of limited edition hardware honoring the arrival of the original PlayStation console 30 years ago. As a whole, the collection offers fans their pick of the following retro-styled editions: an extra-special PS5 Pro bundle, a Digital Edition PS5 slim, a PlayStation Portal, a DualSense Wireless Controller, and a DualSense Edge controller — all of which are available for preorder via the PlayStation Direct storefront and launch on November 21st (aww thanks for the birthday gift, Sony).
The 30th anniversary PS5 Pro bundle is the ultra-exclusive one, as Sony is only making 12,300 individually numbered sets, and the $999.99 bundle includes a PS5 Pro console, two controllers (one of which is a DualSense Edge), and extra accessories / collectibles. If the last anniversary PlayStation console is any indication, preorders are likely to sell out incredibly fast.
$1000
A limited edition bundle containing a PS5 Pro and accessories, all of which are clad in classic PlayStation styling. The bundle includes the console with a disc drive cover plate, vertical stand, DualSense controller, DualSense Edge controller, DualSense Charging Station, and various PlayStation-branded accouterments (including a collectible poster).
How to preorder the 30th anniversary PS5 slim
The Digital Edition PlayStation 5 (slim) is also getting the 30th anniversary treatment, and Sony isn’t making it as exclusive as the Pro. Right now, you can hop in the waiting room preorder the more modest console from PlayStation Direct for $499.99 ahead of its launch on November 21st. Aside from the coloring of the console and controller, as well as the included cover plate for a disc drive, it’s the same PS5 slim that’s been with us for nearly a year now.
$500
The current Digital Edition of the so-called PS5 “slim” with classic PlayStation aesthetics. It also includes an alternate cover plate to accommodate the add-on disc drive.
How to preorder the 30th anniversary PlayStation Portal
The PlayStation Portal remains a quirky little peripheral, as the 8-inch handheld has one sole purpose: to stream games off your PS5 via Remote Play, complete with full DualSense integration and features. The Portal looks almost odd to my eyes in Sony’s retro aesthetic, but if you were already planning to pick up Sony’s latest mobile experiment and want a little nostalgic flare, you can currently get in line preorder the LE edition from the PlayStation Direct storefront for $219.99 ahead of its November 21st release date.
$220
A limited edition version of the PlayStation Portal for Remote Play console streaming via a PS5.
How to preorder the 30th anniversary DualSense controller
Sony’s DualSense Wireless Controller is the cheapest way to dip your toe into the nostalgic waters of the 30th anniversary collection. The limited edition DualSense and DualSense Edge gamepads offer the same features as the standard models, only with multi-tone gray paint jobs and colorful PlayStation logo / button shapes. The DualSense and DualSense Edge are available to preorder via PlayStation Direct for $79.99 and $219.99, respectively, and are set to arrive on November 21st. Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon also have listings for preorders of the 30th Anniversary DualSense.
$79
The 30th anniversary version of Sony’s standard DualSense controller. The gamepad features the usual haptics and adaptive triggers, except it’s decked out in a design that calls back to original PlayStation-era controllers.
$220
Sony’s premium controller for the PS5 in classic PS1-era styling. Unlike the standard DualSense controller, the Edge offers interchangeable sticks, two customizable rear paddle buttons, and on-the-fly changeable software presets.
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Update September 26th, 10:53AM ET: Article has been updated with links to other retailers for the 30th Anniversary DualSense controller and to reflect that the 30th anniversary PS5 Pro bundle is sold out.
