Unveiling the Initial Sight of the Anticipated PS5 Advanced Model
After numerous whispered rumors and speculations, Sony officially revealed the PS5 Pro. The corporation unveiled the latest console through a brief announcement live stream on YouTube, hosted by PS5 Lead Architect Mark Cerny.
If you've been following the rumors, then the new console's appearance won't come as a shock: The leaked images were on point, as the Pro shares a strong resemblance to the original PS5, albeit featuring striped cutouts along its sides. If you're unsure about the Pro variant, it's understandable.
PS5 Pro Specifications
The anticipated features of the PS5 Pro primarily reside within its innards. Today, companies affix the "Pro" label to devices that boast the best hardware in their respective categories. The PS5 Pro follows this trend, essentially serving as an enhanced version of the PS5. However, it doesn't seem like a groundbreaking upgrade, at least not one that would force many existing PS5 owners to upgrade.
Sony detailed the hardware improvements in three distinct categories:
- Supercharged GPU: Sony unveiled the PS5 Pro's GPU boasts 67% more Compute Units and memory that is 28% faster than the GPU in the PS5. The company claims that this new GPU can render graphics 45% faster than before.
- Ray tracing enhancement: Ray tracing on the PS5 Pro reportedly operates at double or triple the speeds of the base PS5.
- PSSR upscaling: Sony is rolling out AI upscaling for the PS5 Pro, which they've dubbed "PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution" or PSSR. This technology adds extra detail to images using machine learning.
The goal is to provide gamers with the ability to enjoy games at 60 fps without compromising visuals. With the current PS5, many games offer users a choice between a higher resolution (albeit at a slower 30 fps) or a lower resolution (but at a smoother 60 fps). The better hardware combines the advantages of both options.
Sony highlighted several upcoming 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 enhancements, there's PS5 Pro Game Boost, which enhances or stabilizes the performance of more than 8,500 backwards-compatible PS4 games. Enhanced Image Quality also increases the resolutions on select PS4 games. The console supports Wi-Fi 7, 8K gaming, and variable refresh rate.
Although the spec bump is welcomed, it isn't revolutionary. None of the visual showcases during the announcement made me question the original PS5's capabilities, or that playing these games on the PS5 Pro is the only way to truly enjoy them. As of now, there are no exclusive titles for the PS5 Pro. All the games that can be played on the Pro can be played on your current PS5, and even many of those on your PS4.
How much does the PS5 Pro cost?
The price is a little steep: Sony is asking $699.99 for the Pro, which includes a 2TB SSD, but no disc drive. If you want this feature, you'll need to shell out an additional $79.99 for the attachment. It's also missing a stand, for which you'll have to pay an extra $29.99.
The PS5 Pro is expensive, especially considering a Digital Edition PS5 slim goes for $449.99. Unless you're determined to experience the highest visual quality with every single game, I would suggest opting for the standard PS5 and using the savings to purchase the games themselves.
The PS5 Pro will be available for pre-order starting Sept. 26, and will be launched on Nov. 7.
The PS5 Pro announcement by Sony has generated excitement among gaming enthusiasts who seek improved entertainment experiences. The Pro's anticipated features predominantly focus on hardware upgrades, positioning it as the best version in its category, much like other devices labeled 'Pro'.
If you're considering upgrading from the original PS5, you might be interested in the improved Ray tracing speeds on the PS5 Pro, which is claimed to operate twice as fast as the base model.
