According to various very insistent rumors, Sony would launch a PlayStation 5 Pro at the end of 2024. It would be the most powerful console on the market, which would make it possible to better run the games in the PS5 catalog released in November 2020. What do we know about it?
It’s an open secret: Sony should launch a PlayStation 5 Pro in a few months, in the same way that it marketed a PS4 Pro to relaunch its 2013 console. Several media outlets, such as Insider Gaming and The Verge, have had access to its characteristics, analyzed by Digital Foundry.
The PlayStation 5 Pro would not be a replacement for the PlayStation 5, but a supercharged version to run games better. It would be aimed at a restricted target that swears only by performance or to discover games like GTA 6 without any concessions. What do we know about this PS5 Pro? Lots of things, although Sony hasn’t confirmed anything yet.
What is PS5 Pro?
The PlayStation 5 Pro would be based on the same principle as the PlayStation 4 Pro, namely a more powerful version of the PlayStation 5, launched in November 2020, and which has already been entitled to a Slim version. We can see it as a high-end model, designed for those who want to play in the best conditions. With its increased power, games will run much better, whether in terms of fidelity or performance.
What would the PS5 Pro look like?
It’s unclear what the PS5 Pro might look like, but we can imagine it compared to the PS4 Pro, which was a sort of stack of two PS4s. However, we hope that the PS5 Pro will not be a stack of two PS5s, even Slim, otherwise the dimensions would be gargantuan.
We can also rely on the design philosophy of the entire PS5 range, with futuristic lines and the combination of white and black for the colors. The PS5 Pro should not deviate from these stylistic codes, to maintain continuity in the look of this generation of console.
The PS5 Pro would be the most powerful console on the market
The characteristics of the PlayStation 5 Pro, shared by several reliable sites, including The Verge, are especially telling when we compare them to those of the basic PlayStation 5.
Here they are :
| PS5 | PS5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Ryzen Zen 2 3.5GHz | Ryzen Zen 2 3.5 GHz, with boost mode to 3.85 GHz |
| Graphics power | 10.3 TFlops | 33.5 TFlops |
| Ray tracing | Yes | Yes, x2 to x4 performance |
| System memory (GDDR6) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory available for games | 12.5 GB | 13.7 GB |
| Memory bandwidth | 448 Gbps | 576 Gbps |
As we can see, it is the GPU part which would experience a huge boost (x3). Sony would promise rendering speed increased by 45% compared to the classic PS5.
The PS5 Pro would also rely on PSSR (for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling). This would be a new “intelligent” solution for upscaling (upward conversion) and antialiasing (antialiasing), for increased performance. This is the equivalent of Nvidia’s DLSS.
On the other hand, the weak evolution of the CPU part could pose a problem in the optimization of certain titles – as highlighted by this analysis from Digital Foundry.
Which controller for the PS5 Pro?
The PlayStation 4 Pro was not entitled to its dedicated controller. We don’t see why the PlayStation 5 Pro would have one, knowing that the DualSense is the most advanced controller in Sony’s history. Eventually, the Japanese manufacturer could provide a DualSense Edge (the high-end version), but that would increase the price enormously.
What games would be available on PS5 Pro?
The PS5 Pro would build on the PlayStation 5 catalog. In all likelihood, it would not offer any exclusivity. There would also be a label which would provide information on the total compatibility of the games. A 4K rendering at 60 fps is targeted, but other scenarios would be possible to benefit from the “PS5 Pro Enhanced” badge.
Thus, current games could be presented as optimized for the PS5 Pro if they display better definition and/or a higher framerate compared to performance on normal PS5. The same would go for the integration of ray tracing effects. Everything would go through a new display mode, which the developers would offer to owners.
The PS5 Pro would also be able to better run games that are not optimized by an update, via an ultra-boost mode. But it would be more of an improvement in stability, whether in terms of framerate or Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). To truly take advantage of the increased power of the PS5 Pro, developers will have to put in the work.
What would the features of the PS5 Pro be?
The PlayStation 5 Pro would provide the same features as the PlayStation 5, namely:
- Play PS4 games with backwards compatibility;
- Play games in virtual reality, via PlayStation VR2;
- Connect to PlayStation Portal for remote play;
- Access streaming platforms (YouTube, Twitch, myCanal, Disney+, Netflix, etc.);
- Play discs (DVD, Blu-ray, UHD Blu-ray, etc.).
How much would the PS5 Pro cost?
The PlayStation 5 Pro is expected to cost at least €100 more than the standard PlayStation 5, which would put it around €650. Sony would have ways to reduce the bill: lower the price of the PS5 to offer the PS5 Pro at €550 and/or market a version without a disc reader. It could be removable, like the Slim version.
When would the PlayStation 5 Pro be released?
According to various indiscretions, the PS5 Pro would be available at the end of 2024, around November. It would be four years after the PS5 and one year after the PS5 Slim.
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