During today’s PS5 Technical Presentation, Sony’s Lead Architect Mark Cerny unveiled the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 Pro, providing details on the upgraded and more powerful mid-generation iteration of the PS5.
The presentation also disclosed that the PS5 Pro is set to release on November 7, 2024, with a price tag of $700 / £700 / €800 / ¥120,000. Notably, the console will not include a disc drive, but users can opt for a £100 add-on. Additionally, a vertical stand will be available as an optional accessory for £25. Pre-orders are scheduled to commence on September 26, 2024.
The PS5 Pro boasts improvements across the board compared to the base PS5. With increased CPU performance, faster RAM, and a significant 45% boost in GPU performance (thanks to a 1.6 times larger size), gamers can expect a step closer to achieving their 4K60 gaming aspirations. The enhanced GPU will also bring advanced ray tracing capabilities to the forefront.
Despite the likelihood of native 4K gaming remaining slim, Sony has introduced a proprietary upscaling technique known as PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling) to bridge the gap. This technology aims to rival DLSS 3, FSR 3, XeSS, and other temporal upscaling methods.
The goal is to eliminate the need to choose between Fidelity and Performance modes. Examples provided included The Last of Us Part 2, Spider-Man 2, and Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, offering Fidelity Mode graphics at double the performance with 60FPS.
Advanced Ray Tracing will enable Gran Turismo 7 to incorporate real-time ray tracing into gameplay, rather than restricting it to replays. Third-party developers are also onboard, with Hogwarts Legacy integrating enhanced reflections into its immersive world.
Games optimized for the PS5 Pro will be designated with a ‘PS5 Pro Enhanced’ label, while support is being extended to titles such as Alan Wake 2, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Demon’s Souls, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, The Crew Motorfest, The First Descendant, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, and more.
Even without native support, the PS5 Pro Game Boost feature will enhance performance across a wide range of PS5 and backward compatible PS4 games. Enhanced Image Quality for PS4 games will also leverage PSSR technology to uplift the visual experience of older titles.
