September 28th 2024.
I recently had the opportunity to pre-order a PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary bundle from the PlayStation Direct store. It cost me a whopping £960, but I was over the moon to secure one for myself. My initial plan was to sell my old PlayStation 5 to help cover the high price of the bundle, as well as enjoy all the extra goodies that came with it. Little did I know, I would soon find myself in a dilemma that I hadn't even considered before.
You see, the bundle that I pre-ordered is now being resold on eBay for ridiculous prices, with some listings reaching up to £5,000! Yes, you read that right - £5,000 for a gaming console. It's absolutely insane. As much as I despise scalpers and what they stand for, I can't help but be tempted by the thought of making that much money. I mean, who wouldn't want to be paid just for waiting a few hours and clicking a few buttons?
But then, I have to remind myself of the bigger picture. This is exactly what Sony knew would happen when they released this limited edition bundle. They knew that scalpers would swoop in and ruin it for genuine fans who simply wanted to commemorate their love for the original PlayStation. And now, I find myself torn between making a hefty profit and sticking to my morals.
It's not just about the money, though. I also believe that Sony has a responsibility in this situation. Perhaps it's time for them to consider producing enough units to fulfill the pre-orders. This way, true fans would have the chance to purchase the console without having to pay exorbitant prices on the resale market. I understand that there will always be some degree of profiteering, but it would definitely be a step in the right direction.
Don't get me wrong, I am beyond grateful to have been able to order the PS5 Pro bundle in the first place. I feel privileged to be able to afford such an expensive item for my entertainment. But it also raises questions about the state of the industry. How did we get to a point where consoles are being resold for thousands of pounds, and people are willing to pay that much for what is essentially just a couple of faceplates?
This whole situation has made me reconsider my role as a collector of video games. When I see empty disc copies of a dead live service game selling for over $100 and sealed retro games supposedly going for hundreds of thousands, it's clear that things have gotten out of hand. I'm not sure what the solution is, but something needs to change.
As for the PS5 Pro, I hope that I get to keep and enjoy it without feeling guilty. But if my family and friends find out how much it could potentially sell for, I don't think I'll be able to justify keeping it. It's just too much money to pass up. It's a sad reality, but it's a reflection of the industry's focus on marketing and monetization rather than creating innovative and enjoyable games.
I must admit, Sony's tactics certainly worked on me. This whole situation feels unnecessary, especially when most people feel like the PlayStation 5 generation hasn't even properly begun yet. And yet, here I am, a willing participant in this frenzy of reselling and profiting. It's a bit disheartening, to say the least.
But who knows, maybe this experience will prompt some much-needed changes in the industry. Until then, I'll just have to wait and see what happens when my bundle arrives.
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