GameStop (NYSE: GME) is listing pre-owned and refurbished PlayStation 5 Pro consoles at $1,399.99, well above Sony’s recommended retail price of $899.99 for a brand-new unit.
The move defies the conventional expectation that used products sell for less than their new counterparts, placing GameStop in unusual territory among major retailers.
Members enrolled in GameStop’s Pro loyalty program receive a slight discount, with the used console listed at $1,329.99, still approximately $430 above Sony’s suggested price.
Consumers seeking a PS5 Pro with a disc drive face even steeper costs, with GameStop listing that configuration at $1,499.99, or $1,424.99 for Pro members.
An anonymous Reddit user posted what they claimed was an internal GameStop email announcing the price increase, noting that “the pre-owned consoles will have a higher price than the new console [and] this is intentional.”
No official explanation was provided for the pricing decision, though updated listings on the GameStop website have since confirmed the price hike is legitimate.
The timing of the move points strongly toward GameStop positioning itself to benefit from consumer demand surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, scheduled for November 19.
PlayStation and Rockstar have partnered on a marketing campaign specifically designed to drive PS5 console sales in connection with GTA 6’s launch, amplifying demand pressure ahead of the holiday season.
At least one major retailer has already warned that GTA 6’s release could trigger a shortage of consoles ahead of Christmas, suggesting supply constraints may be a real factor in GameStop’s pricing calculus.
A third-party seller on Best Buy is currently listing a new PS5 Pro at $1,528, labeling it a “high demand product” and warning shoppers that stock is expected to sell out quickly.
The PS5 Pro originally launched in the United States in November 2024 at $699, a price point widely criticized given that the console shipped without a disc drive included.
With fresh retail stock remaining scarce, used PS5 Pro consoles have already been selling for comparable amounts on eBay, meaning GameStop’s new pricing broadly aligns with what independent resellers are already charging in the secondary market.
The combination of limited supply, a blockbuster game release, and holiday shopping season demand creates conditions where inflated pricing on used hardware may find willing buyers despite the steep premium over Sony’s official price.
