So, you’re itching to dive into the sprawling world of GTA 6 this November, but that brand-new PlayStation 5 price tag is giving you pause? You’re not alone. While the allure of the latest hardware is strong, there’s a smarter way to experience Rockstar’s masterpiece without breaking the bank: consider a refurbished PS5.
The Refurbished Advantage
Let’s face it, shelling out $600 or more for a brand-new PS5 feels like a steep price. Sony’s current pricing puts the PS5 Digital Edition at $599.99 and the disc-drive model at $649.99, while the PS5 Pro costs a frankly ridiculous $899.99. But before you resign yourself to that hefty bill, take a look at what’s available in the refurbished market. You might be surprised.
My first stop would be PlayStation Direct“>PlayStation Direct, where Sony is selling certified refurbished PS5 consoles directly through its own store. These aren’t just any used consoles; they’re rigorously tested and guaranteed to work like new. The refurbished PS5 is currently priced at $549, while the refurbished PS5 Digital Edition comes in at a tempting $499. That latter price point is particularly attractive if you’re starting from scratch and don’t have a collection of physical PS5 or PS4 games gathering dust.
That $499 price puts it a full $100 below a brand-new PS5 Digital Edition, and you’re getting the newer slimline design with 1TB of storage. For someone buying a console primarily to play GTA 6, that’s a pretty compelling proposition.
And don’t worry about quality; according to Sony“>Sony assures us that these refurbished consoles “complete a rigorous recertification process that includes full testing that meets the same functional standards as new PlayStation products. Your certified refurbished product works like new.”
There’s another reason I’m leaning towards the Digital Edition specifically. Sony has announced plans“>Sony has announced plans to stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028, so we’re already heading towards a future where physical games are becoming less central to the PlayStation ecosystem.
That doesn’t mean physical games are suddenly going away, and I’m still recommending the disc-drive PS5 to anyone who regularly buys used games, hunts for physical discounts, borrows games from friends, or has an existing collection. But if you’re starting with a completely blank slate and GTA 6 is the game you’re buying the console for, saving that additional $50 with the refurbished Digital Edition is definitely worth considering.
Beyond PlayStation Direct: Best Buy’s Bargains
PlayStation Direct isn’t your only option. Best Buy“>Best Buy is currently selling a refurbished PS5 for $539.99, making it another option worth considering if you want a disc drive. However, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting here. This is the original 2020 PS5 model, with an 825GB SSD, rather than the newer slimline 1TB model sold by PlayStation Direct.
So, if you want the cheapest possible route into GTA 6 and don’t care about physical games, I’d go for the $499 refurbished PS5 Digital Edition from PlayStation Direct“>PlayStation Direct. If you want a disc drive, the $539.99 Best Buy model is the cheaper option“>Best Buy, although you’re buying older hardware.
And there’s an extra incentive at Best Buy right now. The retailer is offering a $50 reward certificate“>offering a $50 reward certificate when you buy GTA 6 alongside an eligible PS5 or Xbox console. That effectively takes the sting out of the price, although I’d be careful about treating a reward certificate as the same thing as an upfront discount. You still have to spend the money initially, and the $50 comes back as Best Buy credit rather than cash.
Pro Power: Exploring PS5 Pro Options
For those eyeing the high-end PS5 Pro, there are “Open Box” options available at Best Buy“>Best Buy from $800.99 for a “Fair” condition, $827.99 “Good”, and $854.99 “Excellent” condition. PS5 Pro consoles are hard to find at most other retailers right now, so you’d be better off buying one now rather than later.
Finally, consider this $100 PlayStation Gift Card for just $95 right now at Amazon“>PlayStation Gift Card on Amazon (Prime members only), effectively taking $5 off the GTA 6 Ultimate Edition. It’s not a massive saving, but if you were gonna drop 100 big ones on GTA already, it’s $5 back for effectively no extra effort.
Source: IGN
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