After showcasing it at video game exhibitions and developer conferences around the world, Sony has finally decided that it is time to reveal the PlayStation 5 Pro to the public.
In a nine-minute presentation released on Tuesday (10/9), the console’s lead architect, Mark Cerny, described the PS5 Pro as the “most powerful console ever produced”. It features an upgraded GPU, advanced ray tracing, and AI-based upscaling, making your games run smoother and look better than ever.
Price and Release Date
Sony confirmed at the end of the presentation that the PS5 Pro will be released on November 7. It will be available for pre-order starting on September 26, 2024, from PlayStation Direct and retail outlets.
It will cost €799.99, a price that shocked many gamers, considering that back in 2016, when the PS4 Pro was released, it cost exactly the same as the PlayStation 4.
The prices of the PlayStation 5 Pro in the USA, UK, Europe, and Japan
Sony
However, the price is justified, according to the Independent, by the technical advancement. The leap in specifications from the PS5 to the PS5 Pro is much greater than the corresponding leap between the PS4 and the PS4 Pro.
The Design of the PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro looks like a mix of the original PS5 and the PS5 Slim. It has the same height as the original console and the same width as the PS5 Slim. The visual difference is the wide vents in the middle of the PS5 Pro.
The console features a 2TB internal SSD – double the storage of the PS5 Slim – and comes with a wireless DualSense controller and the game “Astro’s Playroom”. It will not have a disc drive, and those who wish to have one will need to purchase an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive separately. They will also be able to change the console covers when they become available.
Specifications and Features
The larger GPU in the PS5 Pro has 67% more compute units than the current PS5 console and 28% faster memory. Overall, this allows for up to 45% faster performance for gameplay, making the experience much smoother.
The ray tracing has also been enhanced, providing more dynamic reflection and refraction of light. This allows rays to be emitted at double, and sometimes triple the speed compared to the PS5 Slim. Sony demonstrated this difference in practice using clips from the games “Gran Turismo 7” and “Hogwarts Legacy.”
The PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution that Sony presented is an AI-based upscaling technology, using machine learning technology to provide greater image clarity in games and increased detail that is impressive.
Other new features include the PS5 Pro Game Boost, which stabilizes and improves the performance of 8,500 PS4 games that are compatible with the PS5 Pro, while the Enhanced Image Quality will increase their resolution. Finally, the PS5 Pro will feature wireless WiFi 7 technology in areas that support this standard, and will also support VRR gaming and 8K. It is compatible with PlayStation VR2, PlayStation Portal, DualSense Edge, Access controller, Pulse Elite, and Pulse Explore.