PS5 Pro Offers Minor Graphics Upgrades with a Major Price Hike
Sony Interactive Entertainment
As the console generation progresses, major players are updating their hardware for modest graphics enhancements. Sony has just introduced the PlayStation 5 Pro, featuring improved specs and, notably, a significantly higher price tag.
The PS5 Pro’s primary enhancements revolve around what Sony refers to as “The Big Three”: a more powerful GPU, enhanced ray tracing, and AI-driven upscaling. The new GPU features 67% more compute units compared to the current PS5 and 28% faster memory, resulting in up to 45% faster rendering during gameplay.
PS5 Pro Enhances Ray Tracing Speed and Upscales Resolutions with AI
Ray tracing on the PS5 Pro calculates light paths for more realistic reflections and shadows, with the system reportedly doubling or even tripling the speed of these computations to reduce frame rate slowdowns commonly associated with this feature. Additionally, the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) utilizes AI to upscale game resolutions.
Currently, games offer a choice between fidelity mode, which prioritizes ray tracing and 4K resolution at 30 fps, and performance mode, which opts for a smoother 60 fps by sacrificing some detail. According to PS5 Lead Architect Mark Cerny, with around 75% of players preferring performance mode, the PS5 Pro aims to deliver the best of both worlds.
Despite these advancements, the visual improvements can be subtle, with side-by-side comparisons showing only minor differences. Major titles will receive free “PS5 Pro Enhanced” updates to utilize these upgrades, and backward-compatible PS4 games will also benefit from enhanced resolution.
PS5 Pro Priced at $700 with Additional Costs for Disc Drive and Stand
The PS5 Pro comes with a hefty price tag of $700 (£700, €800, AU$1,200), representing a 55% increase over the current model. Notably, the console lacks a disc drive, requiring an additional $80 if you want the capability to play physical games. Moreover, the $30 vertical stand is not included.
On the plus side, the PS5 Pro offers double the built-in SSD space, now up to 2 TB. However, the PlayStation digital store often lists games at higher prices than physical retailers, and while Sony has upgraded to Wi-Fi 7 for faster downloads, its benefits depend on various factors like your location and internet setup.
Given that our current PS5 is performing well, we’re likely to hold off for now. The ball is in Microsoft’s court to entice us with their next console. The PlayStation 5 Pro is set to launch on November 7. You can view the presentation in the video below.
Read the original article on: New Atlasa
