Sony has officially introduced the PlayStation 5 Pro, its most powerful gaming console yet, building on the success of the PlayStation 5 launched in 2020.
The PS5 Pro brings significant improvements in graphics performance, enhanced hardware, and AI-powered features, making it a top contender in next-gen gaming.
The key upgrade to the PS5 Pro is its revamped GPU. While still utilizing the same architecture as the original PS5, the new GPU boasts 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory, delivering a 45% improvement in game rendering speed.
This means smoother graphics and faster gameplay for players, enhancing the gaming experience on multiple levels.
Another major advancement comes in the form of improved ray tracing. The PS5 Pro’s hardware-accelerated ray tracing capability can now handle rays at double or even triple the rate of the standard PS5, resulting in more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in games. This is a significant leap for gamers who prioritize visual fidelity.
Sony also revealed its proprietary AI-driven image upscaling technology, the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. This in-house solution uses artificial intelligence to upsample images to higher resolutions, offering superior results compared to current software-based upscaling techniques like AMD’s FSR.
Sony claims that the technology rivals Nvidia’s DLSS and Intel’s XeSS, although it remains focused solely on image upscaling without adding frame generation.
Mark Cerny, PlayStation’s lead architect, emphasized the PS5 Pro’s goal of eliminating the need for performance versus quality toggles in games. With the new console, gamers can expect the image quality of the “quality” mode while maintaining a smooth 60 frames per second, combining both performance and graphical fidelity.
The PS5 Pro will also include a Game Boost feature, enhancing the performance of over 8,500 PS4 titles with better resolution and frame rates. Other features include Wi-Fi 7, support for VRR, and 8K displays, making it a versatile and future-proof device.
Priced at $700, the PlayStation 5 Pro will be available for pre-order on September 26, with a release date set for November 7, 2024.
