In a technical presentation given this morning, PlayStation has revealed their upcoming new console: the PlayStation 5 Pro. The upgraded successor to the PS5 will be releasing on November 7, with pre-orders opening up on September 26. The price of the PlayStation 5 Pro will be $699.99 at launch. The new console promises to bring major performance improvements to the PS5 ecosystem, while boasting “even higher fidelity graphics with smoother frame rates at 60FPS.” The full technical presentation can be watched below:
In the PlayStation blog post that followed the presentation, Sony was keen to focus on three major upgrades to the PS5 hardware that would be found in the PS5:
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Upgraded GPU: With PS5 Pro, we are upgrading to a GPU that has 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5 console and 28% faster memory. Overall, this enables up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay, making the experience much smoother.
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Advanced Ray Tracing: We’ve added even more powerful ray tracing that provides more dynamic reflection and refraction of light. This allows the rays to be cast at double, and at times triple, the speeds of the current PS5 console.
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AI-Driven Upscaling: We’re also introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-driven upscaling that uses a machine learning-based technology to provide super sharp image clarity by adding an extraordinary amount of detail.
The PlayStation 5 Pro will also include a new “PS5 Pro Game Boost” feature, which is applicable to over 8,500 PS4 titles, and may be used to increase stability and performance for a multitutde of compatible PS4 and PS5 games. Select PS4 games will also be able to be played with improved resolution. It’s unclear how often or how greatly the PS5 Pro Game Boost feature will improve past releases, with wording about the feature’s effectiveness remaining suspiciously vague on Sony’s end.
The new console will be equipped with Wi-Fi 7, VRR, and 8K Resolution support, although it is not specified if playing games in 8K resolution will also be capable of reaching the 60 FPS mark. The discless console features easily swappable covers, which also can be swapped with the PS5 Pro Disc Drive, which will be sold separately for an unspecified price point. A 2TB SSD, DualSense controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom will be included in every PS5 Pro, as well as compatibility with all currently released PS5 accessories. The PS5 Pro’s user interface and network services will be identical to those found on the PS5.
Sony has also announced multiple titles receiving updates that take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s advanced hardware. So far, 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 have all been confirmed to recieve this “PS5 Pro Enhanced” label, though specific improvements for each title have not been specified.