PlayStation has announced the launch of its new console, the PS5 Pro, which is set to be released on November 7, with a retail price of $699.99. This marks a significant increase over the original PS5, which launched in November 2020 at $499, with a digital-only version priced at $399. Preorders for the PS5 Pro will begin on September 26.
During a live-streamed technical presentation, PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny revealed the upgraded features of the PS5 Pro. Significant improvements include a larger GPU, advanced ray tracing capabilities, and AI-driven upscaling technology.
Key advancements of the PS5 Pro include:
Upgraded GPU: The PS5 Pro will feature a GPU with 67% more Compute Units than the original PS5, along with 28% faster memory, contributing to up to 45% faster rendering for a smoother gameplay experience.
Advanced Ray Tracing: This new console will enhance ray tracing technology to deliver more dynamic light reflections and refractions. This upgrade allows for rays to be cast at double or even triple the speed of the current PS5.
AI-Driven Upscaling: The PS5 Pro will introduce PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, utilizing machine learning to enhance image clarity with additional detail.
Numerous games will receive free software updates to be optimized for the PS5 Pro, marked with a “PS5 Pro Enhanced” label. Some of the optimized titles 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 & Clank: Rift Apart,” “The Crew Motorfest,” “The First Descendant,” and “The Last of Us Part II Remastered,” among others.
The PS5 Pro will come equipped with a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and will have “Astro’s Playroom” pre-installed. The console offers a disc-less option, allowing players to purchase the PS5 disc drive separately, along with an optional stand available for separate purchase.
Despite its new features, PlayStation stated that the height of the PS5 Pro matches that of the original PS5, while its width is consistent with the current slim edition of the console.
Sony’s announcement of the PS5 Pro arrives as the gaming community eagerly anticipates news about the successor to Nintendo’s Switch, expected to be unveiled by March, and the release of Xbox’s special editions of the X and S Series consoles this fall, amidst their ongoing development of the next generation of hardware.