As of Tuesday, September 1, the PlayStation 5 Pro is not available across multiple electronics retailers, including Elkjøp, Power, NetOnNet, and Komplett. The sudden hardware shortage is fueled by a spike in consumer demand following Rockstar’s trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI.
The Post-Trailer Hardware Surge
Retailers report an increase in hardware movement immediately following the media drop late last week. According to Power’s communications chief Silje Ensrud, sales figures skyrocketed by roughly 300 percent on Friday—representing a quadrupled sales volume compared to a normal operating day. Momentum sustained itself through the weekend, with Saturday hovering 200 percent above baseline and Sunday maintaining a 100 percent increase.
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Elkjøp’s data and gaming sales manager, Mohamed Abby Jama, noted that while the console has sold well over time, the recent trajectory represents a sharp, distinct acceleration. Over at Komplett, inventory for the system was completely wiped out on Thursday last week. Communications chief Daniel Hauan confirmed that the timing and purchasing volume point to the GTA 6 showcase as a contributor to the demand.
Global Shortages and Sony’s Lifecycle Stance
The supply bottleneck is not isolated to Nordic markets. Most large electronics retailers throughout the United States—tracked by industry monitors like Tom’s Guide, Shinobi602, and Games Radar—are showing depleted stock. German retail channels mirror the shortage, according to Play3.de coverage.
Yet, this hardware crunch collides with a corporate strategy from Sony leadership. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal in mid-August, Sony executive Hiroki Totoki stated that the corporation is no longer aggressively pushing to drive console unit sales. With the hardware currently sitting in the latter half of its lifecycle, Sony’s focus has pivoted toward recurring revenue streams from the established user base.
Weighing the Cost Against the Upgrade
For gamers scrambling to secure hardware ahead of the November launch window, the financial math requires a close look. Sony adjusted pricing upward earlier in the year, bumping the Pro console to 10,990 NOK in April. Furthermore, the system ships without a disc reader, requiring an additional purchase for physical media.
Questions also remain regarding technical implementation. Although Grand Theft Auto VI carries the official “PS5 Pro Enhanced” label, developer Rockstar has not said if the Pro version will offer higher frame rates or use PSSR upscaling technology. Notably, media captured in the latest trailer ran on a standard PS5, leaving early adopters to weigh whether the Pro hardware is necessary.
