GameStop is selling refurbished PS5 Pros for $1,399.99, as if that were a deal

GameStop has unexpectedly raised the prices of pre-owned and refurbished PlayStation 5 Pro consoles to $1,399.99. This increase puts the price around $100 to $150 higher than the list prices of new units, which are still hard to come by ahead of the upcoming GTA 6 release next month. The move is a blow to gamers who had anticipated purchasing second-hand units at reasonable prices before the holiday season.

The new prices are approximately 55% more than the original $900 cost of brand-new PS5 Pros and exactly twice the console's initial $700 launch price. Sony has been raising prices for both the PS5 and PS5 Pro several times over the past year, reportedly due to the AI-driven memory shortage that has driven up costs for most consumer electronics since the beginning of the year.

According to a Reddit user who claims to be employed at GameStop, the company recently sent an internal memo to workers announcing the price change, effective October 6. The memo explicitly states that the price hike is intentional and instructs staff to update in-store displays before opening on Thursday. A moderator for the r/GameStop subreddit has verified the authenticity of the leaked memo.

The new prices, which match the prices of used units on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, are now listed on the official GameStop website. The PS5 lineup can be found at various retailers, including Amazon, Target, and GameStop, with the Pro models currently out of stock on most platforms. New units can be purchased from Best Buy and Walmart for $1,495 and $1,555, respectively.

The PS5 Pro is also priced exorbitantly at Newegg, with a list price of $1,585. However, pre-owned PS5 units in acceptable condition begin at $499.99.