Sony created a buzz when it unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro last week, with many fans questioning whether the mid-gen upgrade was worth the $700. One of the big questions facing the PS5 Pro is what that means for big games coming in the latter part of the generation, including EA’s unnamed Battlefield game.
When asked about his thoughts on the new hardware, Respawn President and EA Studios Group General Manager Vince Zampella took a wait-and-see approach to Sony’s new console.
“I mean, we haven’t released the game yet, so is it really going to help us? Not yet. Can we do more cool stuff on it? Sure. I think we’ll see. When we see how adopted it is, we’ll see how much it really impacts us. We have to make a game that works on everything, so it’ll be like, what can we add to something like this, pun intended,” Zampella said.
While relatively little is known about the new Battlefield, it’s likely to be some sort of game that pushes the PS5 Pro’s capabilities. EA DICE has long used the Battlefield series as a tech 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 can expect from the new release.
As for the price, which has caused a great deal of controversy among fans and in the media, Zampella described it as “balanced.”
“I mean, I think that’s expected and anything that gives us better performance is for people who really like it. To me, it’s amazing. I was watching something about it where the price… where they look at it as the most expensive. And it’s not really,” he said. “If you go back, some of the older machines were just as expensive and maybe even more after adjusting for inflation. So at first it seemed a little shocking, but it’s actually not that bad. And if you get a $700 computer, you’re not going to get the same performance that you get out of it.”
“I mean, it’s a balance,” he continued. “Is it expensive for people? Sure. Not everyone will be able to afford it. Would it be better if it was cheaper? Sure. I want more people to have it. But it really makes sense.”
The PS5 Pro has been the subject of intense debate since its reveal last week, with fans, analysts, and the founder of the Game Awards Jeff Keighley An unscientific poll conducted by IGN found that only about 10 percent of respondents were planning to get the mid-gen update, with most considering it too expensive.
In arguing that the PS5 Pro is too much for too little, IGN’s Brian Altano said, “Then, of course, there are the serious hardcore gamers who want their games to look amazing on their massive OLED TVs and high-end gaming monitors. There will always be a place for people like that — myself included — but it’s hard to know if we’re a big enough audience to justify making and selling a $700 PS5 Pro four years after buying a PS5 during a hardware generation that hasn’t really found its footing yet.”
One way or another, the PS5 Pro will launch on November 7, and you can find our list of enhanced games here.
As for Zampella, he spoke to IGN about the future of Battlefield in an exclusive interview where he also confirmed that it will return to a modern setting. Be sure to check out the full interview for his thoughts on returning to what Battlefield 3 and 4 did so well, competing with Call of Duty, and more.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director and co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
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