Leaked GameStop Memo Shows Used PS5 Pros Priced Above New Ones As GTA 6 Release Looms
A leaked internal GameStop memo shared on Reddit lists pre-owned PlayStation 5 Pro consoles at $1,399.99 to $1,499.99, depending on specifications, putting them more than 50% above the $899 retail price of a brand-new unit.
"The pre-owned console will have a higher price than the new console," the memo states. "This is intentional."
Lo and behold, it is...
Brand-new PS5 Pro units have a retail price of $899, up from $749.99 earlier this year because of chip shortages. It's unclear why GameStop raised used console prices by more than 50%.
GameStop is already listing pre-owned and refurbished PlayStation 5 Pro console for $1,399, while listing brand new ones for $899.99🚀 At this point, what’s the difference between scalpers and these stores? Multiple customers also raised concerns that they could open their stock and pass it down as “pre-owned” for higher prices, though there’s still no proof that this can happen in this scenario, but it shows how there’s total lack of trust within the gaming industry for all the predatory practices that are being normalized and passed down as “it is what it is”🤔
— Rino🚀 (@RinoTheBouncer) October 6, 2026
"Many people blame the AI-driven memory chip crisis for the PS5 Pro shortage. AI data centers' appetite for HBM and willingness to pay top dollar for these chips meant that DRAM manufacturers have pivoted most of their capacity towards this more lucrative market, with manufacturers of consumer goods fighting over a smaller pie of DRAM production. The situation has led to a 500% increase in RAM prices in the past 12 months, with the shortage now starting to spill over into other industries like smartphones and automotive manufacturing," tech blog Tom's Hardware noted.
The blog added, "The situation is likely compounded by the anticipated launch of GTA VI this coming November, which started pre-selling in June 2026. While Rockstar isn’t targeting 60 FPS for the game at launch, it seems that gamers are willing to pay top dollar just to ensure that they can get the best possible performance when the game finally arrives after years of waiting."