We at NerdLeaks have been tracking an eyebrow-raising claim about GameStop and the PS5 Pro. According to GameRant, leaked internal guidelines and a memo reportedly show the retailer planning to list pre-owned PS5 Pro consoles for significantly more than their new counterparts — a move that, if true, would flip the usual used-market logic on its head. Take this with a pinch of salt, but the figures in the document are specific enough that we need to look at what they allegedly say and why it matters.
What Was Reported
GameRant reports that a leaked internal memo instructs stores to change pricing for trade-in PS5 Pro consoles. The memo allegedly states that starting on October 16, pre-owned PS5 Pro consoles will retail for $1,399.99 for a digital edition and $1,499.99 for a physical disc edition.
Per the memo highlighted by GameRant, that spike would amount to a $500 markup on PS5 Pro consoles compared to their MSRP. GameRant also notes that GameStop's website listings for pre-owned PS5 Pro consoles already reflect this price increase, a point other outlets have flagged as part of the same leak.
The Source & Credibility
Leaked Memo Details
GameRant describes the information as coming from leaked internal guidelines for stores and a memo. We have not independently verified the document, so treat the numbers as alleged rather than confirmed. The leak includes both the pricing numbers and the specific start date, which is why the claim reads as unusually concrete.
Website Listings And Secondary Reporting
GameRant points to what appears to be corroborating evidence in online listings. The article notes that GameStop's own pre-owned console listings reportedly show the higher prices. Other outlets have been pointed to as sources for that observation, but we are relying only on the claims as reported by GameRant and the linked evidence it highlights.
As always with leaks that affect retail pricing, consider this: memos and internal guidelines can travel fast, but they can also be drafts, tests, or region-specific notes. We advise readers to take the leak with a pinch of salt and watch for an official statement from GameStop.
What It Could Mean
If the memo is accurate and the pricing rolls out as described, it would mean that buying pre-owned from GameStop may no longer offer the price savings shoppers typically expect. As GameRant puts it, used consoles from GameStop "won't offer a cheaper alternative for much longer," if these listings hold.
- Immediate Consumer Impact: Shoppers who assumed trade-ins would create lower-cost pre-owned stock could find those units priced above new MSRP.
- Retail Strategy Signal: The alleged markup suggests GameStop might be treating trade-in units as higher-margin inventory rather than discounted alternatives.
- Market Ripples: If confirmed, the change could prompt buyers to compare new versus used prices more carefully and might influence where people choose to trade in consoles.
This alleged policy also intersects with broader conversations about hardware formats — notably the difference between digital and physical disc editions — which makes the split pricing between the digital and disc PS5 Pro noteworthy. For context on the industry chatter around disc formats and developer surveys, see our piece on Sony Sent Massive Dev Survey About Killing Discs. And for how component shortages and price pressure have been discussed elsewhere, our report on Memory Crunch Could Tighten Further is relevant to the wider conversation.
Why This Matters
This is a potentially important retail story because it challenges the
