PlayStation 5 Pro is here. Sony ditched the PS5 Pro on Tuesday, unveiling an updated console with improved graphics capabilities, expanded ray tracing capabilities, upscaled artificial intelligence for improved image quality and 2TB of SSD storage. However, the console, which Sony calls “the most advanced and innovative console hardware ever,” does not have a disc drive. Players have the option to purchase a disc drive separately and install it on the PS5 Pro.
The PS5 Pro was announced at Sony’s tech presentation on Tuesday, where PS5 chief architect Mark Cerny explained updates to the company’s current generation of consoles. Most games on the standard PS5 require players to choose between two graphics modes: Fidelity and Performance. The former offers higher resolution and more detailed graphics, while the latter emphasizes performance. The PS5 Pro essentially offers the best of both worlds, promising frame rates above 60 fps for most modern games with near-fidelity image quality.
Price and availability of the PS5 Pro
However, upgrades come at a cost. The MSRP of the PS5 Pro is $699.99 (approximately Rs. 58,750). That’s $200 more than the $499 PS5 Slim, which comes with a CD drive. Adding a disc drive to the PS5 Pro brings the new console’s effective price to $780 (Sony sells the disc drive separately for $79.99). A DualSense controller is included with the main unit, but the vertical stand is sold separately.
The PS5 Pro will be available in select markets on November 7, 2024 and can be purchased at participating retailers or directly from PlayStation at direct.playstation.com. Pre-orders for this console begin on September 26th. Sony has not yet announced the price and availability of the PS5 Pro in India. The console will be available in the familiar two-tone black and white, but Sony has confirmed that additional color options for the console’s cover will be available in the future.
PS5 Pro upgrades and features
Sony promises three standout features for the PS5 Pro, delivering high-quality graphics with a smoother frame rate of 60fps. You can get this for $700.
Improved GPU: The PS5 Pro GPU has 67% more processing units than the standard PS5. The memory is also 28% faster. Sony claims that this upgrade can increase gameplay playback speed by up to 45%.
Advanced Ray Tracing Features: Some standard PS5 games support ray tracing in Fidelity mode, resulting in more realistic reflections. The PS5 Pro promises more powerful ray tracing capabilities and offers “more dynamic light reflection and refraction.” According to Sony, this allows it to emit light beams twice or even three times faster than a standard PS5.
PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution: PS5 Pro also introduces a new AI upscaling feature called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). Like other upscaling methods, this method also uses machine learning-based technology to add more details to the images.
These updates are promised to deliver 4K gameplay with essentially 60fps performance (this also varies by game). The PS5 Pro also features PS5 Pro Game Boost. This includes more than 8,500 backwards compatible PS4 games you can play on the new console, as well as FPS boosts for Xbox Series S/X. Sony says the feature can “stabilize or improve the performance of supported PS4 and PS5 games.” So don’t expect consistent performance improvements across all titles. The PS5 Pro also promises improved resolution for some PS4 games. The console supports Wi-Fi 7 for faster digital downloads, variable refresh rates and 8K gaming.
Sony says some games will receive free updates that take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s features. The updated games will also be labeled “PS5 Pro Enhanced.” The company has confirmed the list of first- and third-party games that will be updated for the PS5 Pro. These include 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 and Clank: The Rift Motorfest. , The First Descendants, The Last of Us Part II Remastered and more.
As for the design, Sony hasn’t revealed exact dimensions, but says the PS5 Pro will be the same height as the original PS5, but slightly taller than the PS5 Slim. However, the width of the new console corresponds to that of the current model of the PS5 Slim digital version.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
