We Finally Have Our First Look at the PS5 Pro
Following plenty of speculation and rumors, Sony finally announced the PS5 Pro. The company unveiled the new console in a short announcement livestream on YouTube, hosted by PS5 Lead Architect Mark Cerny.
Anyone following the rumors will not be surprised by the new console's appearance: The leaks were accurate, as the Pro looks much like the OG PS5, albeit with striped cutouts running along its sides. I wouldn't blame you for not knowing this was the Pro version of the console.
PS5 Pro specs
Of course, the PS5 Pro's most anticipated features are on the inside, not the outside. Companies these days add the "Pro" title for devices that sport the best hardware possible in any given product category. The PS5 Pro is not different, as it is, essentially, a beefier version of the PS5. That said, it doesn't seem like a massive jump, at least not one that many PS5 owners may feel compelled to upgrade over.
Sony broke down the hardware upgrades in three distinct categories:
New GPU: Sony announced the PS5 Pro's GPU has 67% more Compute Units and memory that is 28% faster than the GPU in the PS5. The company claims this new GPU can render graphics 45% faster than before.
Ray tracing upgrades: Ray tracing on PS5 Pro is reportedly double or triple the speeds when compared to the base PS5.
PSSR upscaling: Sony is rolling out AI upscaling for the PS5 Pro. The company calls this "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 experience games at 60 fps without having to downgrade the visuals. With the current PS5, many games offer users a choice between a higher resolution, but a slower 30 fps experience, or a lower resolution 60 fps experience. The better hardware combines the best of both worlds.
Sony highlighted a number of existing titles that will take advantage of these graphical boosts, 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 upgrades, there's PS5 Pro Game Boost, which improves or "stabilizes" the performance of more than 8,500 backwards-compatible PS4 games, while Enhanced Image Quality increases the resolutions on certain PS4 games. The console also supports Wi-Fi 7, 8K gaming, and variable refresh rate.
The spec bump is welcome, sure, but it isn't revolutionary. None of the examples shown in the announcement made me think the original PS5 was a demonstrably worse experience, or that playing these games on the PS5 Pro was the "only" way to enjoy them. There are also no exclusives for the PS5 Pro at this time: All of the games you can play on the Pro, you can play on your current PS5. (Not to mention, most of those you can play on your PS4, too.)
How much does the PS5 Pro cost?
The price is a bit of a doozy, too: Sony is asking $699.99 for the Pro. That includes a 2TB SSD, but no disc drive. If you want that, you'll need to spend the $79.99 on the attachment. It also doesn't come with a stand, for some reason. That's another $29.99 if you want your console standing up.
It's an expensive console, especially when a Digital Edition PS5 slim goes for $449.99. Unless you're dead-set on experiencing the highest quality visuals with each and every one of your games, I would invest in the standard PS5, and spend that savings on the games themselves.
PS5 Pro will be available for pre-order starting Sept. 26, and will be available starting Nov. 7.