PS5 Pro: Is This the Next-Gen Console We’ve Been Waiting For?

The PS5 Pro: A Familiar Upgrade, But Is It Worth the Price?

Eight years ago, I witnessed the unveiling of the PS4 Pro, a mid-generation upgrade promising significant graphical enhancements. Today, standing in the same room at Sony’s PlayStation US headquarters, I find myself experiencing a strong sense of déjà vu as I examine its successor: the PS5 Pro. While the improvements are undeniably impressive up close, the overall value proposition remains a complex question, particularly considering the $700 price tag.

The setup mirrored the PS4 Pro reveal: multiple screens displaying eleven games running side-by-side on both the original PS5 and the new Pro model. Immediately apparent was the premium Sony is again demanding, not for new game releases, but for enhanced visuals within existing titles. As before, game patches are crucial for unlocking these boosts, and the quality of these enhancements varies considerably across different games.

Seriously Impressive, Up Close

The visual improvements are indeed significant, especially when viewed from a close distance. Details previously lost in the fray become remarkably apparent. I witnessed individual blades of grass, a higher density of particles, newly unlocked 8K and ray tracing modes, and a significant reduction in the distracting shimmering that plagued certain games on the original PS5. Michiel van der Leeuw, technical director on the Horizon games, eloquently summarized the experience regarding Horizon Forbidden West: the enhanced textures are far crisper, the clouds are vastly improved, and overall smoothness is greatly enhanced. "It was as if a pair of dirty goggles had been lifted from my eyes," I wrote about the PS4 Pro in 2016, and that same feeling resonated deeply with my experience of the PS5 Pro’s enhancements.

Yet, my conclusion this time around isn’t as unequivocally positive as it was eight years ago. The significantly higher price point compared to the PS4 Pro upgrade is a major factor. More importantly, the viewing distance noticeably impacts the perceived improvements. The enhancements, while dramatic at close range (within five feet), become progressively less apparent as the viewing distance increases. Most visual improvements are negligible at ten feet, marking a greater reduction in visual impact compared to the PS4 Pro’s enhancements. Sony’s demo setup, with fixed-length wired controllers, actively encouraged this near-field viewing—a factor to consider in evaluating the value proposition.

A Boon for Fidelity-Focused Gamers

However, the PS5 Pro’s advancements aren’t entirely subjective. If you prioritize graphical fidelity over raw frame rate, settling for the "Quality," "Fidelity," or "Graphics" modes on the original PS5, the PS5 Pro’s advantages are undeniable. Games that previously experienced noticeable frame rate drops now run with remarkable smoothness, often surpassing the fidelity of the original PS5’s highest-quality modes.

The Ray Tracing Revelation

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the PS5 Pro is its handling of ray tracing. While it’s unlikely that many games will develop entirely new ray tracing modes specifically for the PS5 Pro, the inclusion of ray tracing in games like F1 24 demonstrated a significant enhancement. The difference between ray tracing enabled and disabled was striking. Suddenly, the racing environment felt distinctly more realistic with the enhanced shadows, accurate reflections, and realistic light refraction. This capability makes it exceedingly compelling, leading me to choose ray tracing over other options every time.

Upscaling and Resolution Nuances

It is critical to note that while games often advertise themselves as ‘4K’, this isn’t always a straightforward comparison. The PS5 Pro uses AI upscaling via PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), effectively converting lower-resolution images to 4K on the fly. As a result, internal render resolutions vary considerably, affecting the final image quality. The advertised 4K resolution at 60 frames per second means that even though the output to your screen is 2160p (4K), the actual in-game rendered resolution could be substantially lower. This should be considered when comparing the PS5 Pro’s enhancements to competitor consoles.

The PS5 Pro, while impressive, does not double the performance of the original PS5. So, some compromises still need to be made. In Spider-Man 2‘s Performance Pro mode, the render resolution is lower than in the original PS5’s Fidelity mode. While the overall PS5 Pro experience was preferable, there are potential trade-offs in detail. The same trade-off, though to different degrees, applies in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart where improvements in smoothness and crispness come at the expense of crowd density in the upgraded Performance Pro mode.

Developers generally prioritize "stability," smoothing out shortcomings present in the original PS5 versions. Importantly, many games will retain their original Performance and Fidelity modes, allowing for user preference. This flexibility is worth noting, as it caters to various gameplay priorities—high frame rate versus high graphical fidelity.

A Game-by-Game Assessment

While a full review will require dedicated hands-on time, here are some brief observations on the games showcased:

• Demon’s Souls: A single PS5 Pro mode significantly improved frame rate and smoothness even compared to the original PS5; enhanced particle effects, and increased visibility of distant details.
• Dragon’s Dogma II: Smooth frame rates and improved visual clarity in 4K.
• F1 24: Impeccable performance with ray tracing enabled at 4K 60fps; several high-resolution modes are also options, including 8K.
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: The most impressive showcase, significantly surpassing the original PS5 in terms of visual detail and clarity, with no noticeable trade-offs.
• Gran Turismo 7: Varied options, allowing players to prioritize either ray tracing or frame rate.
• Hogwarts Legacy: Improvements in frame rate and resolution, enhanced ray tracing features.
• Horizon Forbidden West: Significant improvements in smoothness, texture quality, and reduction of visual artifacts.
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Improved smoothness and sharper visuals but slightly lower render resolution compared to the original PS5’s Fidelity mode.
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Minor improvements to detail and smoothness; slight reduction in crowd density.
• The Crew Motorfest: Increased detail and improved visibility of distant objects.
• The Last of Us Part II Remastered: A marked increase in both smoothness and sharpness.

Conclusion: A Premium Upgrade with Trade-offs

The PS5 Pro undoubtedly delivers significant graphical enhancements, especially within close viewing distances. Ray tracing integration is noteworthy, even if not universally implemented across all titles. However, the high price point and the diminishing returns at greater viewing distances necessitate serious consideration. While fidelity-focused gamers will likely find the upgrade compelling, those prioritizing frame rate above all else may find the cost-to-benefit ratio unfavorable. A comprehensive review with more extended testing and analysis will be needed to fully determine the PS5 Pro’s value in the competitive gaming landscape.

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