We Finally Got Our First Look at the PS5 Pro
After much speculation and rumors, Sony has finally announced the PS5 Pro . The company unveiled the new console in a short livestream on YouTube , hosted by lead PS5 architect Mark Cerny.
Anyone who’s been following the rumors won’t be surprised by the new console’s appearance: the leaks appear to be accurate, as the Pro looks very similar to the OG PS5, albeit with striped cutouts on the sides. I wouldn’t blame you for not knowing this was the Pro version of the console.
PS5 Pro Specifications
Of course, the PS5 Pro’s most anticipated features are on the inside, not the outside. These days, companies add the “Pro” designation to devices equipped with the best hardware in any given product category. The PS5 Pro is no different, as it is essentially a more powerful version of the PS5. However, it doesn’t feel like a huge leap, at least not one that many PS5 owners might feel the need to upgrade to.
Sony has broken down hardware updates into three separate categories:
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New GPU : Sony announced that the PS5 Pro GPU has 67% more compute units and memory, which is 28% faster than the PS5 GPU. The company claims that this new GPU can render graphics 45% faster than before.
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Ray tracing updates . Ray tracing on the PS5 Pro is reported to be two or three times faster compared to the base PS5.
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PSSR upscaling : Sony is introducing AI upscaling for the PS5 Pro. The company calls it “PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution” or PSSR, which adds extra detail to images using machine learning.
The overall idea here is to offer gamers the ability to play games at 60 frames per second without having to degrade the graphics quality. On the current PS5, many games offer users the choice between a higher resolution but slower 30fps or a lower resolution 60fps. The best equipment combines the best of both worlds.
Sony has highlighted a number of existing games that will take advantage of these graphical improvements, including: 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 and The Last of Us Part II Remastered .
In addition to these three updates, there’s PS5 Pro Game Boost, which improves or “stabilizes” the performance of more than 8,500 backwards-compatible PS4 games, and Enhanced Image Quality increases resolution in select PS4 games. The console also supports Wi-Fi 7, 8K gaming, and variable refresh rate.
The improvement in performance is certainly welcome, but it is not revolutionary. None of the examples shown in the ad made me think that the original PS5 was clearly inferior, or that playing these games on the PS5 Pro was the “only” way to enjoy them. There are currently no exclusives for the PS5 Pro either: all games that can be played on the Pro can be played on your current PS5. (Not to mention, you can play most of them on your PS4 too.)
How much does PS5 Pro cost?
The price is a little crazy too, with Sony asking $699.99 for the Pro. This includes a 2TB SSD, but no disk drive. If you want it, you’ll have to spend $79.99 on the attachment . For some reason, the package does not include a stand. It’s another $29.99 if you want your console to stand up .
It’s an expensive console, especially considering the slim PS5 Digital Edition costs $449.99. Unless you’re determined to get the highest quality visuals in every one of your games, I’d invest in the standard PS5 and spend those savings on the games themselves.
The PS5 Pro will be available for pre-order on September 26th and will be available on November 7th.