A first-look at games running on PS5 Pro, including:
◦ Horizon Forbidden West
◦ Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
◦ The Last of Us Part II Remastered
◦ Gran Turismo 7…and more: https://t.co/qPuN6eqO1l pic.twitter.com/v8rCMQng8W
— PlayStation AU (@PlayStationAU) September 30, 2024
Sony has unveiled the technical advancements of the PS5 Pro, revealing that discussions about the console began even before the original PS5 was released in 2020. PlayStation Senior Principal Product Manager Toshi Aoki shared insights into the development process, noting that technological innovation is a continuous pursuit for the company. “We started discussing it before the PS5 actually came out because the PS5 specs were already locked in.
We were ready to launch and everything. We knew, of course, as you mentioned, technologies evolve every year,” explained Aoki.
the PS5 Pro still hasn’t sold out in the US or UK. Looks like the $700 price point will mean this console will be readily available this holiday pic.twitter.com/tzdC0t1i0r
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) September 29, 2024
The PS5 Pro aims to harness these advancements, featuring a more powerful GPU, AI upscaling, and other significant improvements that were not available during the original PS5’s development.
🚨One subscriber of https://t.co/ZooHavuDuX who got a PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Collection is sending it to me. I plan to give it away near Black Friday to a subscriber
Walmart pre-order 10/10https://t.co/jtQebq2wO4
👇Announced in my latest newsletterhttps://t.co/MF28gwoRBc
— Matt Swider (The Shortcut) (@mattswider) September 28, 2024
One of the standout features of the PS5 Pro is its AI upscaling technology, known as PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). This technology, similar to Nvidia’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR, allows developers to upscale games without sacrificing performance. Aoki emphasized that PSSR is tailored specifically for PlayStation games, ensuring it works more effectively with games on the PS5.
PlayStation 5 Pro still available for preorder at PS Direct ($699.99) https://t.co/nG4NPpebYY pic.twitter.com/I3QHgoSG2r
— Wario64 (@Wario64) September 28, 2024
The PS5 Pro’s capabilities were showcased with games like Gran Turismo 7, which used the console’s upscaling to reach 8K at 60fps. Aoki noted that while 8K support is not the primary focus, it is available for those with 8K TVs. The main goal remains providing 4K gameplay with high visual fidelity at 60 FPS.
The PS5 Pro also includes “dedicated custom hardware” co-developed with AMD, primarily within the GPU block, which ongoing game patches will utilize.
Sony’s play for cutting-edge gaming
Developers like Insomniac and Guerrilla Games are already leveraging the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities.
Insomniac’s Director of Core Technology, Mike Fitzgerald, praised the improved ray tracing, while Guerrilla Technical Director Michiel van der Leeuw likened the console to a powerful new toy box. Guerrilla has moved from checkerboard rendering to a focus on true 4K rendering, resulting in smoother and more stable images, especially in cinematics. Concerns have been raised about the unchanged CPU, with potential bottlenecks in more demanding games like Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.
However, Aoki reassured that games will run at a “slightly faster clock,” with the main difference being the enhanced GPU. PS5 Pro’s features may also see inconsistent support outside of first-party titles, but even unsupported games can benefit from improved performance through a game boost feature. Despite noticeable improvements, not everyone may distinguish between a PS5 and a PS5 Pro enhanced game.
Aoki stressed the importance of experiencing the enhancements firsthand, revealing that many players prefer the higher frame rates for smoother gameplay. The communication of these subtle visual improvements, however, remains a challenge. When quizzed about the PS5 Pro’s $700 price tag (up to $800 with the disc drive and vertical stand), Aoki pointed to the advanced technologies and improvements justifying the cost.
The decision to sell the disc drive separately was framed as offering players more choices. Sony has also acknowledged supply issues and economic factors, including the weakened yen, impacting the pricing. Nonetheless, the company remains committed to pushing forward with its technological advancements, setting a high bar for gaming performance and visual fidelity.
With these innovations, Sony continues to build on its PlayStation legacy, offering gamers more power and better performance than ever before.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
