Sony caused a stir when it revealed the PlayStation 5 Pro last week, with many fans wondering whether a mid-gen upgrade is worth a cool $700. One big question the PS5 Pro is facing is what it’ll mean for big games releasing in the latter part of the generation, including EA’s untitled Battlefield game.
Asked for his thoughts on the new console, Head of Respawn & Group GM for EA Studios Organization Vince Zampella took a wait and see stance on Sony’s new console.
“I mean, we’re not out yet, so does it really help us? Not right now. Can we do cooler things on it? Sure. I guess we’ll see. As we see what the adoption is, we’ll see how much it really affects us. We have to make a game that runs on everything, so it’ll just be like, what can we plus up on something like that, pun intended,” Zampella said.
While comparatively little is known about the new Battlefield, it’s apt to be kind of game that pushes the capabilities of the PS5 Pro. EA DICE has long used the Battlefield series as a technical showcase for the Frostbite Engine, pushing advanced effects, environmental destruction, and more. The initial concept art, which you can see below, hints at what fans might be able to expect from the new release.
As for the price, which has generated a considerable amount of discourse among fans and in the media, Zampella called it a “balance.”
“I mean, I think it’s expected and anything that gets us better performance for the people that really love it. To me, it’s an amazing thing. I was watching something on it where the price… where they look at is it the most expensive. And it really isn’t,” he said. “If you go back, some of the older consoles were just as expensive and probably adjusted for inflation were probably more. So it at first seemed a little shocking, but it’s kind of like, it’s actually not that bad. And if you get a $700 PC, you’re not getting the same performance that you’re getting out of it.”
He continued, “So I mean, it’s a balance. Is it expensive for people? Absolutely. Not everybody will be able to afford it. Would it be better if it was cheaper? Sure. I want more people to have it. But it makes sense, really.”
The PS5 Pro has been debated heavily since being revealed last week, with fans, analysts, and Game Awards founder Geoff Keighley all weighing in. An unscientific poll conducted by IGN showed only about 10 percent of respondents were planning to pick up the mid-gen refresh, with most considering it too expensive.
In arguing that the PS5 Pro is too much for too little, IGN’s Brian Altano argued, “Then, of course, there’s the serious hardcore aficionados who want their games to look incredible on their huge OLED TVs and high end gaming monitors. There will always be a place for people like that — myself included — but it’s hard to see if we’re a big enough audience to justify making and selling a $700 PS5 Pro four years after buying a PS5 during a console generation that hasn’t really found its footing yet.”
One way or another, the PS5 Pro will be out on November 7, and you can find our list of enhanced games right here.
As for Zampella, he talked to IGN about the future of Battlefield in an exclusive interview in which he also confirmed that it will return to a modern setting. Make sure to check out the full interview for his thoughts on getting back to what Battlefield 3 and 4 did so well, competing with Call of Duty, and more.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
