PlayStation today revealed the latest console in its lineup, the PlayStation 5 Pro. The new console is an update on the base PS5, which has been engineered to prioritize both graphics and higher framerates, as opposed to one or the other. The PS5 Pro features several improvements, including a larger GPU, advanced ray tracing and AI-driven upscaling. The console launches on November 7 for $700 and pre-orders open on September 26.
Mark Cerny, the PS5’s lead architect, revealed the new console as well as its new features. According to Cerny, the upgraded GPU has 67% more Compute Units and 28% faster memory, enabling 45% faster rendering for gameplay. Advanced ray tracing allows for more dynamic reflection and light refraction. The AI-driven upscaling is called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution and uses machine learning to add detail and clarity.
Cerny mentioned that players, when given the choice between Fidelity mode (which puts the emphasis on graphics at the expense of framerate) and Performance mode (which prioritizes higher framerates with reduced graphics), are overwhelmingly choosing Performance mode. The PS5 Pro was engineered, according to Cerny, with the goal of marrying the two modes, or at least reducing the visible distance between them while keeping framerates high.
Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in a follow-up blog post that several PS5 games will be patched to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s features, including Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma 2 and The Last of Us Part II Remastered. The console has PS5 Pro Game Boost, which may “stabilize or improve the performance of supported PS4 and PS5 games” and can apply to over 8,500 games.
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According to Nishino, the PS5 Pro is the same height and width as the PS5 and launches without a disc drive (though players can purchase one separately). It’s compatible with all PS5 accessories, including PSVR2, PlayStation Portal and the DualSense Edge. Players can also “swap out console covers when they become available.”
