Source: Sony Interactive Inc.
After revealing the design and specs of the upcoming PS5 Pro, Sony fans are asking “what’s the difference?”
It seems like Sony just can’t catch a break. After the disastrous 11-day stint of Concord before it was unceremoniously pulled from shelves, the PS5 Pro announcement has yet again drawn flak from both the brand’s loyal fanbase and the wider gaming community, who are all asking: “Is that price tag even worth it?”
In the live video Technical Presentation for the PS5 Pro, Mark Cerny, the lead PS5 architect, claimed that the new model boasts advanced gaming technology. The PS5 Pro will include a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed with every purchase.
If you're curious about what the “advanced gaming technology” specs are, then there's:
- Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro will have 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5 console and 28% faster memory. Overall enabling up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay for a “smoother” experience.
- Advanced Ray Tracing: The PS5 Pro will have powerful ray tracing that provides more dynamic reflection and refraction of light. This allows the rays to be cast at double, and at times triple, the speeds of the current PS5 console.
- AI-Driven Upscaling: The PS5 Pro will introduce PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-driven upscaling that uses a machine learning-based technology to provide super sharp image clarity by adding an “extraordinary amount of detail”.
Truth be told, the bigger GPU sounds enticing, but is being able to process “more dynamic reflections and refractions of light faster than the base model” something to write home about? That seemingly narrow enhancement in performance?
If you’re in it for the Ray Tracing or “better” FPS, then maybe it’s time to just invest that egregious $699.99 price tag in a gaming PC.
Fans have also called out the lack of games coming out with the PS5 Pro, a callback to the previous issue 4 years ago during the base PS5 model’s release: the presentation only featured PS4 titles. How are you going to enjoy “enhanced performance” when there are no new games that no one has played multiple times to showcase them?
The Dualsense controllers didn’t even get an upgrade, and the console will have no disk drive or vertical stand included. If you’re wanting to have a stand and a disk drive, you’ll have to shell out even more money. Suddenly, it feels like buying an Apple device all over again.
The PS5 Pro will be up for preordering on 26 September 2024, and will be released on 7 November 2024. The price for the base model will be: $699.99 USD, £699.99 GBP, €799.99 EUR, and ¥119,980 JPY (includes tax).