GTA 6 Launch Is Reportedly Driving Used PS5 Pro Consoles To Double Their Original Launch Price

GameStop is listing a pre-owned PlayStation 5 Pro for $1,399.99 (€1,243 and £1,054) in the United States as GTA 6 approaches release.

The price is roughly double Sony's original $699.99 (€621 and £527) launch price for the console in November 2024 and $500 (€444 and £377) above the retailer's new-console price.

The listing follows an alleged internal GameStop memo shared on Reddit on 5 October. The document said pre-owned PS5 Pro prices would change from 6 October and explicitly noted that used consoles would cost more than new ones.

GameStop has not publicly authenticated the memo. However, the retailer's live product page independently confirms the standard pre-owned PS5 Pro price of $1,399.99 (€1,243 and £1,054), while listing a new unit at $899.99 (€799 and £678).

GameStop's Used PS5 Pro Price Now Tops New MSRP

Sony launched the PS5 Pro on 7 November 2024 with a US recommended retail price of $699.99 (€621 and £527).

The upgraded console arrived without a built-in disc drive, although Sony sells a compatible drive separately. The company has since increased the console's price twice in the United States.

The first increase took effect on 21 August 2025, when Sony raised the PS5 Pro price by $50 (€44 and £38) to $749.99 (€666 and £565). Sony cited a 'challenging economic environment' when announcing the change.

Another increase followed on 2 April 2026. This time, Sony raised the PS5 Pro's US recommended retail price by $150 (€133 and £113), taking it to $899.99 (€799 and £678).

Sony cited 'continued pressures in the global economic landscape' when announcing the 2026 changes.

Against that backdrop, GameStop's current pre-owned price stands out. At $1,399.99 (€1,243 and £1,054), the used console costs $500 (€444 and £377) more than the retailer's new PS5 Pro listing and is roughly twice the system's original launch price.

GameStop also lists a lower price of $1,329.99 (€1,181 and £1,002) for Pro programme members. Even with that discount, the pre-owned console remains considerably more expensive than the $899.99 (€799 and £678) new model shown on the same product page.

The retailer's page also showed the console as unavailable for online purchase when IBTimes UK reviewed it.

GTA 6 Nears Release, but Pricing Link Remains Unproven

The timing has inevitably drawn attention because Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Sony's official PlayStation listing also identifies GTA 6 as 'PS5 Pro Enhanced,' meaning the game will include features designed to take advantage of the more powerful console.

That does not establish that GTA 6 demand caused GameStop's pre-owned pricing.

GameStop has not publicly attributed the $1,399.99 (€1,243 and £1,054) price to Rockstar Games' upcoming release. The alleged internal memo circulating on Reddit also does not say GTA 6 caused the increase.

Claims that players are rushing to upgrade specifically for GTA 6 therefore remain speculative without company statements, sales figures or other evidence connecting the two developments.

The approaching release can reasonably provide context for increased interest in PlayStation hardware, particularly because GTA 6 is officially listed as PS5 Pro Enhanced. It should not, however, be presented as the proven reason behind GameStop's pricing decision.

Leaked GameStop Memo Still Needs Caution

The alleged memo contains several other PS5 Pro listings, including configurations priced at $1,499.99 (€1,332 and £1,130) and trade values ranging from $800 (€710 and £602) to $850 (€755 and £640).

Those details remain dependent on the leaked document and should not be treated as independently confirmed simply because GameStop's standard $1,399.99 (€1,243 and £1,054) pre-owned listing has appeared publicly.

The same caution applies to SKUs described in the memo with labels referring to 30th Anniversary and Wolverine designs. Those descriptions should not be characterised as official Sony PS5 Pro editions without separate confirmation.

The memo also said GameStop's Product Replacement Plan would temporarily be unavailable for affected consoles after the price changes, with eligibility expected to return later. That detail has not been independently verified.

What can now be confirmed is narrower but still unusual. GameStop is publicly listing a standard pre-owned PS5 Pro for $1,399.99 (€1,243 and £1,054) while showing the same console at $899.99 (€799 and £678) when new.

GTA 6 arrives on 19 November and is officially designated as PS5 Pro Enhanced. Whether demand for the game played any role in GameStop's pricing remains unanswered.