Starting today, GameStop is offering pre-owned copies of Sony’s most powerful console to an unfortunate set of buyers: used PlayStation 5 Pro systems are being listed for the staggering sum of $1,400. While members of the retailer’s free GameStop Pro loyalty program can shave $70 off that figure and pay just $1,330, either price represents a roughly $500 surcharge over what a brand-new PS5 Pro costs at retail. The move comes as Sony’s flagship hardware remains stock-constrained, and it has reignited a familiar debate about how much consumers should expect to pay for next-generation consoles in an era of persistent supply pressures.
The listings appear directly on GameStop’s own website rather than through third-party marketplace sellers, which distinguishes the retailer from competitors who have adopted similar pricing. The store is essentially positioning its used inventory as a premium option even though it costs substantially more than buying new—a strategy that has drawn criticism reminiscent of console scalping during past launch windows.
A Conditioning Exercise or a Scalper’s Dream?
The most generous interpretation of GameStop’s pricing is that the retailer is quietly preparing gamers for higher prices down the line. Some analysts and commentators have suggested the listings may be priming consumers for the possibility that the PS6 could eventually cost $1,000 or more, a scenario in which current-generation hardware would command premium resale values by comparison. The broader industry context supports such speculation, with consoles probably aren’t getting cheaper anytime soon—a trend largely attributed to the ongoing chip shortage driven by demand from AI development.
A more cynical reading is that GameStop is simply taking advantage of a constrained market in much the same way scalpers have historically profited from scarce launch hardware. The pricing also raises an obvious question for consumers: how many people will now trade in their PS5 Pro at GameStop only to watch the retailer resell it for roughly $500 more than they received? For savvy shoppers, undercutting the store by even $100 on Facebook Marketplace or eBay would arguably be a far simpler path.
How GameStop Compares to Competitors
The used PS5 Pro pricing is not entirely unique to GameStop. Similar figures can be found across Amazon and Best Buy’s storefronts, though there is one crucial distinction: those listings are typically offered by third-party sellers rather than the retailers themselves. this RYTEK example at Best Buy, for instance, reflects that marketplace model where independent vendors set their own prices. In contrast, GameStop stands officially behind its pre-owned pricing on its own website, taking direct responsibility for a markup that few expected to exceed the cost of new hardware.
The used PS5 Pro is being listed at $1,400 through GameStop’s official storefront, with Pro members paying $1,330—a roughly $500 premium over a brand-new unit that capitalizes on current stock constraints.
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The Broader Pricing Trend
GameStop’s pricing arrives against a backdrop of rising hardware costs across the industry. Sony raised pricing for PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal in April, bumping the PS5 Pro from $750 to its current retail price of $900—though that figure is only achievable if you can actually find one in stock. When PS5 Pro originally launched in November 2024, the system cost just $700, meaning consumers are now paying a premium both for new units and, apparently, for used ones.
The trend extends beyond Sony’s ecosystem as well. The Xbox lineup also saw another round of price hikes in August, with the cheapest option being an Xbox Series S at $500. Together, these shifts mark a notable departure from historical norms, making this the first generation of video game systems to increase in price dramatically over the years, rather than following the long-standing pattern of hardware becoming more affordable as the cycle progresses.
As supply constraints and chip demand continue to shape the market, GameStop’s aggressive used pricing may prove to be either a short-term exploitation of scarcity or an early signal of where console prices are headed. Either way, it offers little comfort for players hoping to pick up next-generation hardware without paying a premium.
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