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Highly anticipated: With many PlayStation 5 games forcing players to choose between high image quality and high frame rates, Sony is positioning its mid-generation refresh as a way to offer the best of both worlds. However, the $700 price tag sets a new benchmark for mainstream game consoles, and the absence of a pre-installed optical drive may weaken the value proposition for many consumers.
Pre-orders for the PlayStation 5 Pro open on September 26, and the updated console will start shipping on November 7. Priced at $699, it includes a 2 TB SSD, but the disc drive is sold separately for $79.
Similar to the PlayStation 4 Pro, the PS5 Pro is designed to run the same games as the base model, but with higher frame rates, improved image quality, and enhanced visual detail. While Sony marketed the PS4 Pro as a console that capitalized on the then-new 4K televisions, the PS5 Pro's sales pitch is somewhat murkier.
During a brief demonstration, PlayStation architect Mark Cerny explained that, when given the option between 60fps gameplay and higher image quality, about three-quarters of players choose frame rate. The PS5 Pro was engineered to eliminate this trade-off by allowing games to maintain high frame rates without sacrificing image quality.
The PS5 Pro technical specifications closely align with details that were previously shared by trusted leakers. It boasts a 45 percent increase in graphics rendering power, thanks to 67 percent more compute units and 28 percent faster memory. Additionally, ray tracing is two to three times faster, presumably from features AMD is expected to debut in its upcoming RDNA 4 graphics cards.
Sony also introduced PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, the company's take on Nvidia DLSS, which uses AI and machine learning to upscale images from lower resolutions.
A preliminary list of games that will receive patches to take advantage of these enhancements includes but is not limited to the following:
- 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
The company showcased brief clips of The Last of Us Part II with an improved balance between visuals and frame rate. Additionally, Sony confirmed that Hogwarts Legacy and Gran Turismo 7 will make greater use of ray tracing during gameplay.
Game Boost and Enhanced Image Quality settings will also improve the performance of all PS4 and PS5 games without requiring individual updates. With Game Boost enabled, games will reach their original frame rate limits more consistently. Meanwhile, Enhanced Image Quality will increase the resolution of PS4 games, though Sony has not provided specific details.
The new console also supports Wi-Fi 7 and 8K resolution. Notably, Sony removed the 8K sticker from the original PS5 packaging back in June.