GameStop used PS5 Pro listings reportedly reached $1,399.99 to $1,499.99, far above Sony's $899.99 retail price. Here is what is confirmed, what is still alleged, and what buyers should check before overpaying.
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GameStop’s used PS5 Pro listing has crossed a line buyers usually expect retailers to avoid
GameStop’s U.S. website listed a pre-owned PS5 Pro at $1,399.99, according to GameSpot, Kotaku, TweakTown, IGN, and Push Square, while the same retailer’s new-console listing sat at $899.99. TweakTown also reported a GameStop Pro member price of $1,329.99 for the pre-owned unit, still $430 above the listed new price. Kotaku noted that, as of its check on October 6, both the pre-owned PS5 Pro and a new PS5 Pro listing on GameStop’s site were out of stock.
That inversion is the center of the backlash. A used console is normally the budget route, especially through a major retailer with trade-in inventory. Here, the GameStop used PS5 Pro price is reportedly higher than the new model by hundreds of dollars. Push Square reported that an alleged internal message described the higher pre-owned price as intentional, while VideoCardz stressed that the memo was still a leak and that its timing raised questions because it referenced October 16 as “tomorrow” despite appearing earlier in the month.
The strongest confirmed point is the public pricing seen on GameStop’s own site by multiple outlets: $1,399.99 for a pre-owned PS5 Pro. The $1,499.99 figure is tied to the alleged internal communication and to reports describing a disc-drive-equipped version. Push Square said the leaked pricing guidelines put a digital-only unit at up to $1,399.99 and one with a disc drive attached at up to $1,499.99. That distinction matters because the PS5 Pro does not include an integrated disc drive by default, so buyers comparing listings need to know exactly what hardware is included.
The math explains why “PS5 Pro $1400” and “PS5 Pro $1500” are provoking such a sharp response
Sony’s current U.S. suggested retail price for a new PS5 Pro is $899.99, according to GameSpot, Kotaku, TweakTown, IGN, and VideoCardz. GameSpot reported that the PS5 Pro launched in November 2024 at $699.99, later sat at $749.99, and rose to $899.99 after Sony’s April 2026 price increase. Even before GameStop’s pre-owned listings, the console had already become a more expensive purchase than it was at launch.
At $1,399.99, a used PS5 Pro is $500 above Sony’s current retail price for a new unit. At $1,499.99, the premium becomes $600 over MSRP. Even the GameStop Pro member price reported by TweakTown, $1,329.99, remains well above the new-console listing. That is why the backlash is less about a small scarcity premium and more about a retailer appearing to price pre-owned hardware like a resale-market item.
There is also a credibility gap between marketplace listings and a retailer’s own pre-owned stock. GameSpot reported that similar used PS5 Pro pricing could be seen through Amazon and Best Buy storefronts, but pointed out that those examples involved third-party sellers. IGN similarly reported that third-party resellers through Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart had moved prices into the same range. GameStop’s situation is different because the pricing is attached to GameStop’s own pre-owned listing, which makes the company, not a marketplace seller, the visible actor behind the markup.
Scarcity, GTA 6 demand, and firmware speculation are all part of the pricing pressure
The sources point to a simple supply-and-demand backdrop, but they do not all assign the same weight to each factor. Push Square reported that PS5 Pro supply is light and demand is increasing ahead of GTA 6. Kotaku also framed the shortage around players trying to secure Sony’s more powerful console before Grand Theft Auto 6 arrives. IGN wrote that demand is expected to be high because GTA 6 will likely take advantage of the console’s extra power, while adding that component shortages may limit Sony’s ability to meet demand.
Sony’s own actions in Japan show how tight availability has become in at least one market. Push Square reported that Sony introduced a lottery system in Japan in which only users with 60 hours of PS5 playtime would be eligible to purchase the device. That does not prove the same conditions exist in every region, but it supports the broader point that Sony is managing demand for the PS5 Pro more aggressively than buyers would expect for a console that has already been on the market since 2024.
There is a second, more technical layer: firmware. Push Square reported that recent jailbreaks have led to a run on PS5 hardware running specific firmware. VideoCardz tied the discussion to the Relapse jailbreak, reporting that it supports PS5 and PS5 Pro firmware from 7.00 through 13.60, while newer firmware sits outside the current support range. That could make some pre-owned units more valuable to a specific subset of buyers. It is still speculation as an explanation for GameStop PS5 Pro pricing, however. None of the cited reports establishes that GameStop is sorting or pricing these listings by firmware version.
The backlash is really about retail trust in a console economy that no longer cools down over time
The PS5 generation has broken an old expectation: hardware usually gets easier and cheaper to buy as the cycle matures. GameSpot described this as the first console generation in which systems have risen dramatically in price over time instead of becoming much cheaper. It also noted that Microsoft’s Xbox lineup saw another round of price increases in August, with the cheapest Xbox Series S option at $500. In that environment, a $1,400 used PS5 Pro looks less like an isolated pricing oddity and more like an escalation in a hardware market already moving against late adopters.
For GameStop, the incentive structure is clear even if the company has not publicly explained this specific change in the provided reports. Kotaku reported that former GameStop employees suggested the retailer may be struggling to obtain new PS5 Pro stock, while used consoles can be priced more freely. GameSpot raised the same practical question from the seller side: if GameStop is reselling pre-owned units at $1,400, some owners may decide to undercut the chain on Facebook Marketplace or eBay rather than trade in their consoles.
VideoCardz reported that the alleged internal communication also appeared to raise trade-in values to around $800 to $850. That detail remains tied to the leaked memo, so it should be treated cautiously. If accurate, it would suggest GameStop is reacting to a hotter secondary market, not simply applying a normal used-hardware margin. The player reaction is predictable: when an established retailer mirrors the behavior buyers associate with scarcity resellers, the distinction between retail and scalping feels thinner.
Buyers should slow down and verify the listing before chasing a scarce console
Anyone searching for a GameStop used PS5 Pro should start with the comparison that sparked the backlash: the new-console price versus the pre-owned price. The reports place the new PS5 Pro at $899.99 and the pre-owned GameStop listing at $1,399.99, with a GameStop Pro member price of $1,329.99 reported by TweakTown. If the new unit is out of stock, that does not erase the premium. It only explains why the premium exists.
The next detail is configuration. Push Square reported pricing of up to $1,399.99 for a digital-only unit and up to $1,499.99 for a unit with a disc drive attached. A buyer comparing PS5 Pro $1400 and PS5 Pro $1500 listings should check whether a detachable disc drive is included, whether the seller is GameStop directly or a third-party marketplace seller, and whether the listing is for a pre-owned console rather than a new one.
Firmware is another area where assumptions can get expensive. VideoCardz reported that older firmware may carry extra appeal because of jailbreak compatibility, and Push Square said jailbreak interest may be contributing to demand. But the cited reports do not say GameStop is advertising firmware versions on these listings. Paying a premium because a unit might have a desirable firmware version is a gamble unless the seller explicitly verifies it.
Finally, buyers should read the live listing rather than relying on screenshots or social posts. The public GameStop page is the confirmed source for the $1,399.99 pre-owned price, while the $1,499.99 ceiling comes from reporting around the alleged internal message and disc-drive configuration. Before buying any used hardware at this level, confirm the seller, condition, included accessories, return coverage, and total checkout price directly from the listing.
Waiting is the rational option for most players, even if the market is trying to punish patience
The practical recommendation is straightforward: do not treat a $1,400 used PS5 Pro as the new baseline unless you have a very specific need and understand the premium. The confirmed pricing puts GameStop’s pre-owned listing hundreds of dollars above Sony’s current retail price. That gap is large enough to change the upgrade calculation completely, especially when IGN’s 2024 PS5 Pro review, cited in its report, already called the console’s original $700 launch price a hard sell for some buyers.
There are buyers who may still feel pressure: players who want the strongest PlayStation hardware before GTA 6, collectors chasing scarce stock, or technically minded users seeking older firmware. The problem is that only the price is clear. Stock availability, exact configuration, firmware version, and future retail supply remain uncertain in the provided reporting.
From a strategy perspective, this is a bad moment to let scarcity set your budget. Sony’s $899.99 MSRP is already a steep entry point compared with the PS5 Pro’s launch price. A used PS5 Pro price of $1,399.99 or $1,499.99 asks buyers to pay a second premium on top of the official price hike. Unless GameStop’s listing includes something you can verify and genuinely need, waiting for new stock at retail remains the cleaner play.